Explanatory note

Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends prescribed disease D12 (chronic bronchitis or emphysema) in Part I of Schedule 1 to the Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986 to—

• give greater clarity to the description of the disease by omitting the word “accompanying”; and

• amend the job description—

  • to include exposure to coal dust during screen work at the surface of the mine, for a period of 40 years in aggregate, where the exposure has taken place before 1st January 1983; and

  • so that time spent as a screen worker can be aggregated with underground work, whereby 2 years as a screen worker is the equivalent of one year underground, the requisite period of work being at least the equivalent of 20 years as an underground worker.

Regulation 3 makes a consequential revocation.

These Regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 7 of Schedule 5A to, the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2A) of that Act for prior reference to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.