Citation, commencement and application

1.–(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers´ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and shall come into operation on 1st April 2007.

(2) These Regulations shall apply in relation to any case in which a person first satisfies the conditions of entitlement to a payment under the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers´ Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 on or after the date on which these Regulations come into operation.

Amendment of the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers´ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) Regulations

2.–(1) The Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers´ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988(3) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4).

(2) In regulations 5(2) and 7 (minimum amounts payable to dependant) for "£2,309" substitute "£2,392".

(3) In regulation 6(1)(a) (payment where pneumoconiosis is accompanied by tuberculosis) for "£4,775", in both places where it occurs, substitute "£ 4,947".

(4) For the Schedule substitute the Schedule set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Regulation 2(4)

SCHEDULE

Regulations 3, 4 and 6

"SCHEDULE

TABLE 1

1. This table is for the determination of payments to disabled persons under regulation 3 (or, as the case may be, regulation 6) and for the determination of payments to dependants of deceased sufferers under regulation 4(1).

2. The relevant period is the period specified in regulation 3(2) or, in the case of a disabled person to whom regulation 6 applies, the first period specified in regulation 6(1)(b).

3. The age of the disabled person is his age determined in accordance with regulation 3(2) or, in the case of a disabled person to whom regulation 6 applies, regulation 6(1)(b). In determining the amount payable to a dependant of a disabled person under regulation 4(1), the age to be taken for the purpose of calculating the sum to be deducted from the amount which would have been payable to the disabled person had he still been alive is the age of the deceased at his last birthday preceding his death.

4. The table prescribes payments to disabled persons to whom disablement benefit is payable under section 108 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(4), or under any corresponding provision of the former Industrial Injuries Acts, or would be payable but for the disablement amounting to less than the appropriate percentage.

TABLE 2

1. This table is for the determination of payments to dependants of deceased sufferers under regulation 4(2) or (6).

2. The relevant period is the period specified in regulation 3(2) or, in the case of a disabled person to whom regulation 6 applies, the first period specified in regulation 6(1)(b).

3.–(1) Part A of the table prescribes payments to dependants of disabled persons who died as a result of a disease other than diffuse mesothelioma where–

(a) death benefit under section 108 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 is payable;

(b) disablement benefit under that section or under any corresponding provision of the former Industrial Injuries Acts was payable to the disabled person immediately before he died;

(c) disablement benefit would have been payable to the disabled person immediately before he died but for the occurrence of one of the circumstances listed in regulation 5(1)(a)(iii), or but for his disablement amounting to less than the appropriate percentage.

(2) Part B of the table prescribes payments to dependants of disabled persons who died as a result of diffuse mesothelioma.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Under the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers´ Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 ("the Order") lump sum payments may be made to certain persons disabled by a disease to which the Order applies, or to dependants of persons who were so disabled before they died.

The diseases to which the Order applies are pneumoconiosis, byssinosis, diffuse mesothelioma, primary carcinoma of the lung (where accompanied by asbestosis or diffuse pleural thickening) and diffuse pleural thickening.

Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers´ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988 to increase the amounts payable under the Order. The increase in each case is 3.6 per cent. rounded up or down to the nearest £1 as appropriate.

A regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this rule as it has no impact on the costs of business, charities or voluntary bodies.