Section 2 of the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 (c. 7) (duration of decommissioning scheme) is amended as follows.

In subsection (2)(a), for “the first anniversary of the day on which this Act is passed” substitute “27th February 2003”.

In subsection (3)(b), for “more than five years after the day on which this Act is passed” substitute “later than 27th February 2007”.

If this section comes into force after 26th February 2002, a scheme which would at any time have been a decommissioning scheme for the purposes of the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 had this section come into force on that date, is to be treated as having been such a scheme at that time.