(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations, which come into force on 11th April 1988, prescribe the amount of payments to be made under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 (“the Act”), as amended by the Social Security Act 1985 and the Social Security Act 1986, to persons disabled by a disease to which the Act applies (namely pneumoconiosis, bysinnosis, diffuse mesothelioma, primary carcinoma of the lung (where accompanied by asbestosis or bilateral diffuse pleural thickening) and bilateral diffuse pleural thickening) or to dependants of persons who immediately before they died were disabled by such a disease. All such persons should satisfy the conditions of entitlement prescribed in section 2 of the Act.
The Regulations re-enact the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) Regulations 1985 (“the 1985 Regulations”) which are revoked. In addition to minor and drafting amendments they make the following changes of substance:—
a
The amount of payments laid down by the 1985 Regulations is increased by 8.5% rounded up or down to the nearest £1 as appropriate.
b
Regulations 4 and 5 are amended to take account of the changes made to the conditions of entitlement in section 2 of the 1979 Act by the Social Security Act 1986.
c
Amendments are made consequential on the changes of title of the Pneumoconiosis Medical Board, the Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel and Insurance Officer.