15.—(1) If, on 5th April 1975, a person, by virtue of any regulation having comparable effect to any provision of these regulations, and which ceases to be in force on 6th April 1975, is not disentitled to or not disqualified for receiving any benefit by reason of being absent from Great Britain, or by reason of some event occurring outside Great Britain, that person shall continue to be not disentitled or not disqualified, as the case may be, if—
(a)he satisfies the relevant provision of these regulations; or
(b)he would, had the relevant regulation in force on 5th April 1975 continued in force after that date, have satisfied the provisions of that regulation.
(2) In any case to which these regulations apply, the contribution conditions for the receipt of benefit shall be modified as follows—
(a)for maternity grant in respect of a confinement occurring before 6th April 1976 the condition shall be that not less than 45 contributions under the former Principal Act have been paid by or credited to the contributor concerned in the period of 12 months immediately preceding 6th April 1975;
(b)for death grant in respect of a death occurring before 6th April 1977 the condition shall be either that specified in regulation 7(1)(i) of these regulations or that specified in regulation 6(1)(e) of the former Death Grant Regulations so however that for the figure of 45 specified in the last mentioned regulation there shall be substituted the figure of 25.
(3) Subject to the provisions of regulation 5, where a person was not ordinarily resident in Great Britain on 5th April 1975 and the rate of benefit under the former Principal Act which was applicable in his case or would have been applicable had he been absent from Great Britain was, or if he had been entitled to such benefit would have been, reduced by virtue of the provisions of subsection (1) of section 49 of that Act or of regulations under that subsection, the rate of benefit to which he is or may be entitled under the Act shall, unless and until he becomes ordinarily resident in Great Britain and except during any period when he is in Great Britain, be reduced by the same amount.