These Regulations amend the Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay (Persons Abroad and Mariners) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 (S.R. 2002 No. 382) (the “Persons Abroad and Mariners Regulations”). The Persons Abroad and Mariners Regulations provide for certain special classes of person to benefit from certain provisions in Parts 12ZA and 12ZB of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 relating to ordinary paternity pay and statutory adoption pay.

Regulations 3, 4 and 5 make the changes necessary for the scope of the Persons Abroad and Mariners Regulations to be extended to provide for certain special classes of person to benefit from the provisions in Part 12ZA of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 that relate to additional paternity pay.

In addition, Regulations 3, 6 and 7 introduce certain definitions into the Persons Abroad and Mariners Regulations that were previously defined by cross-reference to Case C of the Social Security Contributions Regulations 2001.

The Social Security Advisory Committee has agreed, under section 150(1)(b) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, that these Regulations need not be referred to it under section 149(2) of that Act.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this Statutory Rule as a negligible impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.