The Statutory Maternity Pay (General) (Modification and Amendment) Regulations 2000

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations modify the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (“the Act”) as it relates to the conditions of entitlement to statutory maternity pay, and amend the Statutory Maternity Pay (General) Regulations 1986 (“the Statutory Maternity Pay Regulations”).

Regulation 2 modifies section 164(2)(a) of the Act in relation to certain pregnant women who are dismissed or whose employment is otherwise terminated without consent.

Regulation 3 amends regulation 2 of the Statutory Maternity Pay Regulations in relation to such women, to prescribe the first week of the maternity pay period, and to make consequential amendments. It also amends regulation 23 of the Statutory Maternity Pay Regulations to disapply section 164(4) of the Act (which requires a woman to give notice that she is going to be absent from work wholly or partly because of pregnancy) in relation to such women.

Regulation 4 provides for these Regulations not to apply to women whose expected week of confinement begins before 4th March 2001.

An assessment of the costs to business of applying these Regulations has been placed in the library of both Houses of Parliament. Copies can be obtained by post from the Department of Social Security, Public Enquiries, Room 113, Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT.