The Pensions (2012 Act) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2012 No. 233 (C. 19)

Pensions

The Pensions (2012 Act) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012

Made

6th June 2012

The Department for Social Development makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 34(3) of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2012(1).

Citation and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Pensions (2012 Act) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012.

(2) In this Order any reference to a numbered section or Schedule is to the section of, or Schedule to, the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2012 bearing that number.

Appointed days

2.—(1) The day appointed for the coming into operation of—

(a) section 10 (rounded figures for earnings trigger and qualifying earnings band);

(b) section 13 (certification that alternative to quality requirement is satisfied); and

(c) section 14 (certification for non-UK schemes),

in so far as not already in operation, is 7th June 2012.

(2) The day appointed for the coming into operation of—

(a) section 2 (duty to report on the impact of socio-economic background (including health indicators) in relation to retirement pension);

(b) section 3(1) to (4), (9) and (10) (abolition of certain additions to the state pension);

(c) section 3(5) in so far as it provides for the omission of the following paragraphs of Schedule 5 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(2) (pension increase of lump sum where entitlement to retirement pension is deferred)—

(i) paragraph 5A(2)(b) and (3)(a);

(ii) paragraph 6(2)(b), (3)(c) and (4)(b);

(iii) paragraph 6A(2)(b), and

(iv) paragraph 7(1),

and section 3(7) in so far as it relates to those paragraphs;

(d) section 9 (review of earnings trigger and qualifying earnings band);

(e) section 20 (indexation and revaluation);

(f) section 21 (indexation requirements for cash balance benefits);

(g) section 24 (contribution notices and financial support directions);

(h) section 32 (grants by the Department to advisory bodies etc.);

(i) section 33(2) (service of documents and electronic working);

(j) in Schedule 2 (repeals and amendments consequential on section 3(5) of the Act)—

(i) paragraph 1 in so far as it relates to the paragraphs specified in heads (ii) to (iv);

(ii) paragraph 3(1), in so far as it relates to paragraph 3(7) and (8);

(iii) paragraph 3(7) and (8), and

(iv) paragraph 4(a) and (d),

and section 3(6) and (8) in so far as it relates to those paragraphs;

(k) in Schedule 4 (pension protection fund)—

(i) paragraph 1 in so far as it relates to the paragraphs specified in heads (ii) to (v);

(ii) paragraph 17 (removal of restriction on transfer notices);

(iii) paragraph 18 (Assembly control of orders and regulations);

(iv) paragraphs 19 and 20 (pension credit members), and

(v) paragraph 37 (calculation of compensation: admissible rules etc.),

and section 22 in so far as it relates to those paragraphs,

is 7th June 2012.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 6th June 2012

(L.S.)

Anne McCleary

A senior officer of the Department for Social Development

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into operation certain provisions of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2012 (“the 2012 Act”) on 7th June 2012.

Article 2(1) of the Order brings fully into operation the following sections of the 2012 Act which relate to automatic enrolment into a workplace pension—

• section 10 which makes provision for rounding figures for the purposes of the earnings trigger and the qualifying earnings band;

• section 13 which relates to the certification provisions; and

• section 14 which relates to the certification provisions in respect of non-UK schemes.

Article 2(2) of the Order brings the following provisions of the 2012 Act into operation—

• section 2 which places a duty on the Department for Social Development to report on the impact of socio-economic background (including health indicators) in relation to retirement pension;

• section 3 and Schedule 2 (in part) which relate to the abolition of certain additions to the state pension;

• section 9 which relates to automatic enrolment into a workplace pension scheme;

• sections 20 and 21 which relate to annual increases to be made by certain occupational pension schemes;

• section 22 and Schedule 4 (in part) which relate to the Pension Protection Fund;

• section 24 which relates to contribution notices and financial support directions issued by the Pensions Regulator;

• section 32 which relates to grants made to advisory bodies; and

• section 33(2) which relates to the requirement to provide records to the Pensions Regulator.

(1)

2012 c. 3 (N.I.)

(2)

1992 c. 7