EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations modify the Social Security Act 1973 in its application to women who are or have been married. The main provisions relate to crediting contributions, or deeming contribution conditions satisfied, in the case of certain widows and other women whose marriages have been terminated (regulations 2-7), the determining of the basis on which the disqualifications for unemployment benefit contained in section 14(2) of the Act shall be applied to married women ( regulation 8), the provision of certain benefits at reduced rates for certain women who do not satisfy the contribution conditions in full (regulation 9), and the treatment of voidable marriages and presumption of death ( regulation 10).

These Regulations, being made before the day appointed for the coming into force of section 2 of the Social Security Act 1973, by virtue of section 48(2) of and paragraph 16 of Schedule 12 to that Act are not required to be referred to the National Insurance Advisory Committee and no such reference has been made.