179 Consultation with Social Security Advisory Committee.N.I.
(1)The Department may refer to the Social Security Advisory Committee (“the Committee”) for consideration and advice such questions relating to the operation of section 32(6) as the Department thinks fit (including questions as to the advisability of amending it).
(2)Subject to subsection (3) and to section 150 of the M1Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (cases where consultation not required), where the Department proposes to make regulations under section 32(6) it shall refer the proposals, in the form of draft regulations or otherwise, to the Committee.
(3)Subsection (2) does not apply to the regulations specified in paragraph 9 or 10 of Schedule 5 to the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992.
(4)The Committee shall consider any proposals referred to it by the Department under subsection (2) and shall make to the Department a report containing such recommendations with respect to the subject-matter of the proposals as the Committee thinks appropriate.
(5)If, after receiving a report of the Committee, the Department lays before the Assembly any regulations which comprise the whole or part of any subject-matter of the proposals referred to the Committee, the Department shall lay with the regulations a copy of the Committee’s report and a statement showing—
(a)the extent (if any) to which the Department has in framing the regulations given effect to the Committee’s recommendations; and
(b)in so far as effect has not been given to them, the Department’s reasons why not.
(6)In relation to regulations required to be made by the Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance and Personnel, any reference in this section to the Department shall be construed as a reference to the Department and the Department of Finance and Personnel.