Explanatory note

This order makes provision for the modification of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975 and Part II of the Child Benefit (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 to give effect to the Convention on Social Security made between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway on 19th June 1990 and set out in the Schedule. A Protocol concerning medical treatment forms an integral part of the Convention.

The Convention provides for reciprocity in sickness and maternity benefit, unemployment benefit, invalidity pension, old age pension and survivors' benefit, benefits for industrial injuries and diseases, death grant (under the legislation of Jersey and Norway only), orphan’s benefit, child benefit and attendance benefit.

Rules are set out for employers in one country who send their employees to work temporarily in the other country (including the Continental Shelf Area); they require the employers to request a certificate of continuing liability for contributions from the authorities in the former country and to present this to the authorities in the other country within a specified period in order to prevent liability for contributions arising in the latter country.