Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends paragraph 6 of Schedule 8B to the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 by increasing from £0·54 to £0·66 the fee which qualifying lenders pay for the purpose of defraying administrative expenses incurred by the Department for Social Development in making payments in respect of mortgage interest direct to those lenders.

Regulation 3 makes a consequential revocation.

These Regulations correspond to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

As these Regulations have only a negligible cost for business a Regulatory Impact Assessment is not necessary.