Friendly Societies Act 1992

Powers of [F1 Authority] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in the cross-heading substituted (17.8.2001 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 8(1), 13(1), Sch. 3 para. 67; S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

51 Power to forbid acceptance of new members. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, if the Commission considers it expedient to do so in the interests of the members or potential members of a friendly society, it may give the society a direction forbidding it to accept any new members.

(2) If the Commission proposes to give such a direction, it shall serve on the society a notice stating that it proposes to give a direction.

(3) A notice under subsection (2) above shall specify the grounds for the proposed direction.

(4) The Commission shall consider any representations made by the society within such period (not being less than one month) from the date on which the society is served with the notice as the Commission may allow and, if the society so requests, shall afford to it an opportunity of being heard by the Commission within that period.

(5) The Commission may not give a direction unless all the grounds for giving it are those, or among those, which were specified in the notice served on the society under subsection (2) above.

(6) On giving a direction, the Commission shall—

(a) serve notice of it on the society, specifying the grounds for making it;

(b) publish notice of it in one or more of the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes and in any such other ways as it considers appropriate; and

(c) send a copy of it to the central office.

(7) A society which contravenes a direction given to it under this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine; and

(b) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.

(8) The central office shall keep a copy of a direction given to a friendly society under this section in the public file of the society.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 51 wholly in force; s. 51 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 126(2); s. 51 in force for certain purposes at 13.1.1993 by S.I. 1993/16, art. 2, Sch. 1; s. 51 in force for all remaining purposes at 28.4.1993 by S.I. 1993/1186, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

52 Applications to court. U.K.

(1) Where the [F2 Authority] has reason to believe that any of the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) below is satisfied, it may present a petition to the High Court for the winding up of the society under the applicable winding up legislation.

(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1) above are—

(a) that a friendly society is carrying on activities that are not activities which such a society is permitted by this Act or the 1974 Act to carry on;

(b) that the society is not carrying on any activity falling within Schedule 2 to this Act;

[F3 (c) that the society is failing to satisfy any obligation to which it is subject by virtue of any provision of the law of any EEA State other than the United Kingdom which–

(i) gives effect to the general insurance or [F4 the life assurance consolidation Directive]; or

(ii) is otherwise applicable to the insurance activities of the society in that State;]

F5 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

and a court shall not make an order for the winding up of a society by virtue of this section unless it is satisfied that one or more of those conditions is satisfied.

(3) Where the [F2 Authority] has reason to believe that any of the conditions mentioned in subsection [F6 (2)] is satisfied, it may make an application to the High Court for an order under subsection (5) below.

[F7 (4) A court may not make an order under subsection (5) unless it is satisfied that one or more of the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) are satisfied.]

(5) An order under this subsection is an order directing the society to modify its business as directed in the order or to take such other steps as may be so directed F8 . . ..

(6) Where a court makes an order under subsection (5) above, the [F9 Authority shall keep a copy of the order in the public file of the society.].

(7) The power to present a petition or to make an application for an order under subsection (5) above is available to the [F2 Authority] whether or not it has previously presented a petition or made an application for such an order, as the case may be.

(8) In the application of this section to a friendly society whose registered office is in Scotland or Northern Ireland, references to the High Court shall be read as references to the Court of Session or, as the case may be, the High Court in Northern Ireland.

(9) In this section “the applicable winding up legislation”, in relation to an incorporated friendly society, has the same meaning as in section 23 above and, in relation to a registered friendly society, means Part V of the M1 Insolvency Act 1986 or (where the society’s registered office is in Northern Ireland) Part VI of the M2 Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in s. 52(1)(3)(7) substituted (17.8.2001 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 8(1), 13(1), Sch. 3 para. 69(a) (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

F3 S. 52(2)(c) substituted (1.9.1994) by S.I. 1994/1984 reg. 12

F4 Words in s. 52(2)(c)(i) substituted (11.1.2005) by The Life Assurance Consolidation Directive (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3379), regs. 1, 3(2)

F5 S. 52(2)(d) repealed (1.12.2001) by 2000 c. 8, ss. 334, 336, 338, Sch. 18 para. 15(2), Sch. 22, S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

F6 Word in s. 52(3) substituted (1.12.2001) by 2000 c. 8, ss. 334, 336, 338, Sch. 18 para. 15(3), S.I.2001/3538, art. 2(1)

F7 S. 52(4) substituted (1.12.2001) by 2000 c. 8, ss. 334, 336, 338, Sch. 18 para. 15(4), S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

F8 Words in s. 52(5) repealed (1.12.2001) by 2000 c. 8, ss. 334, 336, 338, Sch. 18 para. 15(5), Sch. 22; S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

F9 Words in s. 52(6) substituted (17.8.2001 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 8(1), 13(1), Sch. 3 para. 69(b) (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

Commencement Information

I2 S. 52 wholly in force; s. 52 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 126(2); s. 52 in force for certain purposes at 13.1.1993 by S.I. 1993/16, art. 2, Sch. 1; s. 52 in force for all remaining purposes at 28.4.1993 by S.I. 1993/1186, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

Marginal Citations

M1 1986 c.45.

M2 S.I. 1989/2405 (N.I. 19).

F10 52A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F10 Ss. 52A, 53 repealed (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 13(2), Sch. 4 (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5)

F11 53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F11 Ss. 52A, 53 repealed (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 13(2), Sch. 4 (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538

54 Supervision of activities of subsidiaries etc. U.K.

(1) In this section “friendly society group” means an incorporated friendly society, subsidiaries of that society and bodies jointly controlled by it.

(2) If it appears to the [F12 Authority] that the activities of subsidiaries of an incorporated friendly society or bodies jointly controlled by it are or may become disproportionate to those of the friendly society group as a whole, it may direct the society—

(a) to take or refrain from taking steps specified in the direction with a view to securing that the activities in question cease to be or do not become disproportionate; or

(b) to take steps so specified with a view to securing—

(i) that it ceases to have control or joint control of any subsidiary or jointly controlled body in question; or

(ii) that any such subsidiary or jointly controlled body is wound up.

(3) If it appears to the [F12 Authority] that any activity of a subsidiary of an incorporated friendly society or of a body jointly controlled by such a society is unsuitable for a member of a friendly society group, it may direct the society—

(a) to take steps specified in the direction with a view to securing that that activity ceases; or

(b) to take steps so specified with a view to securing—

(i) that it ceases to have control or joint control of the subsidiary or jointly controlled body; or

(ii) that the subsidiary or jointly controlled body is wound up.

(4) A direction under this section may specify [F13 that the society is to comply with it—.

(a) immediately on receipt of a final notice in relation to the direction;

(b) before the end of such period as may be specified in the direction, beginning with the giving of a final notice in relation to the direction; or

(c) on the happening of an event subsequent to the giving of such a notice.]

(5) A society given a direction under this section must—

(a) comply with the direction; or

(b) convert itself into a company in accordance with Part VIII of this Act.

[F14 (6) The Authority may by written notice to the society—

(a) vary a direction under this section at the request of the society; or

(b) revoke a direction under this section.]

(7) If a society requests the [F12 Authority] to notify it as to whether in the opinion of the [F12 Authority] it has complied with a direction under this section, the [F12 Authority] shall comply with the request.

F15 (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(9) The [F16 Authority shall keep] a copy—

(a) of a direction under this section;

(b) of a notice under subsection (6) above; or

[F17 (ba) of a final notice varying a direction under this section;]

(c) of a notification under subsection (7) above;

F18 . . . in the public file of the society.

[F19 (10) “Final notice" means a final notice given under section 390 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as applied by section 58A(6) below.]

Textual Amendments

F12 Words in s. 54(2)(3)(7) substituted (17.8.2001 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 8(1), 13(1), Sch. 3 para. 71(a) (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

F13 S. 54(4): Words and paras. (a)-(c) substituted (17.8.2001 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 8(1), 13(1), Sch. 3 para. 71(b) (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

F14 S. 54(6) substituted (17.8.2001 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 8(1), 13(1), Sch. 3 para. 71(c) (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

F15 S. 54(8) repealed (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 13(2), Sch. 4 (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5)

F16 Words in s. 54(9) substituted (17.8.2001 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 8(1), 13(1), Sch. 3 para. 71(e)(i) (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

F17 S. 54(9)(ba) inserted (17.8.2001 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 8(1), 13(1), Sch. 3 para. 71(e)(ii) (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

F18 Words in s. 54(9) repealed (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 13(2), Sch. 4 (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5)

F19 S. 54(10) inserted (17.8.2001 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 8(1), 13(1), Sch. 3 para. 71(f) (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

Commencement Information

I3 S. 54 wholly in force; s. 54 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 126(2); s. 54 in force for certain purposes at 13.1.1993 by S.I. 1993/16, art. 2, Sch. 1; s. 54 in force for all remaining purposes at 28.4.1993 by S.I. 1993/1186, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

55 Supervision of group insurance business. U.K.

(1) This section applies where a friendly society carries on any group insurance business providing benefits for or in respect of a group of persons who are not members of the society.

(2) If it appears to the [F20 Authority] that the business so carried on is or may become disproportionate to the other activities of the society (including any group insurance business carried on for the provision of benefits for or in respect of persons who are members of the society), it may direct the society to take or refrain from taking steps specified in the direction with a view to securing that the group business in question ceases to be or does not become disproportionate.

(3) Subsections (4) to (9) of section 54 above shall apply in relation to a direction under this section as they apply to a direction under that section.

Textual Amendments

F20 Words in s. 55(2) substituted (17.8.2001 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 8(1), 13(1), Sch. 3 Pt. 1, para. 72 (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538 art. 2(1)

Commencement Information

I4 S. 55 wholly in force; s. 55 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 126(2); s. 55 in force for certain purposes at 13.1.1993 by S.I. 1993/16, art. 2, Sch. 1; s. 55 in force for all remaining purposes at 1.1.1994 by S.I. 1993/2213, art. 2(1), Sch. 5

[F21 55A Supervision of controllers. U.K.

F22 (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) In this Act–

“controller”, in relation to a friendly society to which section 37(2) or (3) of this Act applies, means a person who, either alone or with any associate or associates–

(a) is entitled to exercise or control the exercise of 10 per cent. or more of the voting power at any general meeting of the society; or

(b) is able to exercise a significant influence over the management of the society by virtue of an entitlement to exercise, or to control the exercise of, the voting power at any general meeting of the society;

F23 . . ..

F24 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F21 S. 55A added (1.9.1994) by S.I. 1994//1984 reg. 14(1)

F22 S. 55A(1) repealed (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 13(2), Sch. 4 (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

F23 Definition of “notifiable voting rights” in s. 55A(2) repealed (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 13(2), Sch. 4 (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

F24 S. 55A(3) repealed (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 13(2), Sch. 4 (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

F25 56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F25 Ss. 56, 57, 57A repealed (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, art. 2, 13(2), Sch. 4 (with art. 13(3), Sch. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)