(This note is not part of the Regulations.)
These Regulations give effect in Northern Ireland to reciprocal arrangements relating to Child Benefit that have been made between the Secretary of State for Social Security, with the consent of the Treasury, of the one part and the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland, with the consent of the Department of Finance and Personnel, of the other part.
These arrangements amend earlier reciprocal arrangements relating to child benefit in order to take into account changes introduced in Northern Ireland by the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 to the decision- making process for social security and related matters, and to make other minor and consequential amendments.
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.