Social Security Act 1973

National Insurance Commissioners

13 (1) For the purposes of section 84 of this Act, Part IV of the National Insurance Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 and Part III of the [1966 c. 9 (N.I.).] National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act (Northern Ireland) 1966, Her Majesty may from time to time appoint for Northern Ireland, from among persons who are barristers of not less than 10 years' standing, a Chief National Insurance Commissioner and such number of other National Insurance Commissioners as Her Majesty may think fit.

(2) If it appears to the Chief National Insurance Commissioner (or, in the case of his inability to act, to such other of the National Insurance Commissioners as the Chief National Insurance Commissioner may have nominated to act for the purpose) that any appeal falling to be heard by one of those Commissioners involves a question of law of special difficulty, he may direct that the appeal shall be dealt with, not by that Commissioner alone, but by a tribunal consisting of any two or three of those Commissioners, and if the decision of any such tribunal is not unanimous, the decision of the majority, or, in the case of a tribunal consisting of two Commissioners, the decision of the presiding member, shall be the decision of the tribunal.

(3) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Act to, or falling to be construed as a reference to, a National Insurance Commissioner shall, for Northern Ireland, be construed as a reference to a Commissioner appointed under this paragraph and any reference in this Act, the [1966 c. 6 (N.I.).] National Insurance Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 or the [1966 c. 9 (N.I.).] National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 to, or falling to be construed as a reference to, a Commissioner appointed under this paragraph shall include a reference to any tribunal constituted under sub-paragraph (2) above.