62.This section provides that the modifications of the 2000 Act set out in Schedule 1 to the Act apply to Northern Ireland recipients during the “prescribed period”. The prescribed period is initially from 1st November 2007 until 31st October 2010, but the section gives the Secretary of State a power to extend it by order by up to two years at a time.
63.After the prescribed period has expired, the 2000 Act provisions will apply to Northern Ireland without the modifications. The effect of the modifications is explained below.