Explanatory note

These Regulations further amend the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979 (“the principal Regulations”).

Regulation 2 amends regulation 18 of the principal Regulations by inserting 4 new paragraphs. New paragraph (2A) provides that the provisions of paragraph (2) of regulation 18 shall apply to shares in a body corporate which are capable of being acquired pursuant to an option or a voucher exchangeable for such an option. New paragraph (2B) makes consequential provision for new paragraphs (2A), (5A) and (9A). New paragraph (5A) provides that the provisions of paragraph (4) of regulation 18 shall apply to shares in a body corporate which are capable of being acquired pursuant to an option or a voucher exchangeable for such an option. New paragraph (9A) excludes an option to acquire shares in a body corporate or a voucher exchangeable for such an option from the operation of paragraph (9) of regulation 18. Regulation 2 also makes a consequential amendment to the said paragraph (9).

These Regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Social Security in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8) are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.