Explanatory note

These Regulations provide that, for specified purposes, section 115 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (exclusion from benefit) does not apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland on and after 3rd April 2000 to certain people who, until that date, were not eligible for certain social security benefits but were eligible for assistance under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 or the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972. The effect of these Regulations is to preserve that eligibility on and after that date.

These Regulations also preserve eligibility for assistance under child welfare provisions in Scotland and Northern Ireland to those in receipt of such assistance immediately before 3rd April 2000.