(This note is not part of the Regulations.)
These regulations implement Council Directive 79/7/EEC (O.J. No. L 6, 10.1.79, p. 24) on the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women on matters of social security, in so far as that Directive is relevant to the transitional arrangements for the introduction of severe disablement allowance.
Under regulation 19 of the Social Security (Severe Disablement Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984, persons who were entitled to a non-contributory invalidity pension immediately before both 10th September 1984 and 29th November 1984 automatically became entitled to a severe disablement allowance. These regulations extend that entitlement to certain women who had failed to qualify for a non-contributory invalidity pension because of a condition which applied to married women.
These regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in regulations made by the Secretary of State for Social Security 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 (c. 8), are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.