These regulations are made by virtue of the power contained in the words inserted in section 4 of the Social Security and Housing Benefits Act 1982 by paragraph 7 of Schedule 7 to the Health and Social Security Act 1984. As they are also made earlier than 6 months from the day appointed for the coming into force of paragraph 7 (26th September 1984) they are exempted by section 22(1)(o) of the 1984 Act from the requirement under section 10(1) of the Social Security Act 1980 (c. 30) to refer proposals to the Social Security Advisory Committee and are made without reference to that Committee.

The regulations amend the Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations 1982 and provide that no effect is to be given to any agreement between an employee and his employer to treat certain specified days as qualifying days for the purposes of entitlement to statutory sick pay.