(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations are consequential upon section 55 of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (“the Act”) which amends Articles 19 and 20 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 to allow the Department for Social Development and the eligible member of an appeal tribunal to refer a person to a health care professional for medical examination and report, rather than only allowing a referral to a medical practitioner.
The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1977, the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 and the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 are amended, as appropriate, to substitute “health care professional” or “health care professional approved by the Department” for “medical practitioner” or “doctor”.
As these Regulations are consequential upon section 55 of the Act and are made before the end of the period of 6 months of the coming into operation of that provision they are, accordingly, exempt, by virtue of section 150(5)(b) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, from prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.