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Part XIIN.I. Supplementary Provisions

InterpretationN.I.

173 Managers of schemes.N.I.

The Department may by regulations provide who is to be treated as a manager of an occupational pension scheme for any of the purposes of the provisions of this Act (except Chapter II of Part VII or section 153), the Social Security Acts (Northern Ireland) 1975 to 1991, F1. . . Part VI of the M1Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 [F2or of Articles 22 to 26 of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995].

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

174 Linked qualifying service.N.I.

(1)Subject to subsections (2) to (4), for the purposes of this Act any period of an earner’s service in an employment is linked qualifying service in relation to a later period of service (whether in the same or another employment) if—

(a)under the rules of a scheme applying to him in the earlier period of service—

(i)there was made a transfer of his accrued rights under that scheme (including any transfer credits allowed under the scheme) to another scheme applying to him in the later period of service; or

(ii)those rights were secured by a policy of insurance or an annuity contract and were subsequently transferred to another scheme applying to him in the later period of service; and

(b)in consequence of the transfer of his accrued rights to the second scheme, there are (or were) allowed to him transfer credits under the rules of that other scheme.

(2)For any service to be taken into account as linked qualifying service, it must be actual service and no regard shall be had to any scheme rule which provides for service to be treated for any purposes of benefit or otherwise as longer or shorter than it actually was.

(3)Only so much of the earlier period as is a period of service in respect of which there accrued under the first scheme any of the rights transferred to the second scheme shall be linked qualifying service in relation to the later period of service.

(4)For the purposes of Chapter I of Part IV, as respects any case where the rules of the scheme provide—

(a)that an earner is not entitled to become a member unless he satisfies specified conditions, but

(b)that, if he becomes a member, rights are to accrue to him in respect of periods of service before he satisfied any such conditions,

regulations may provide for any such periods to be treated, in such cases and to such extent as may be prescribed, as linked qualifying service with later periods of service.

175 Normal pension age.N.I.

(1)In this Act “normal pension age”, in relation to a scheme and a member’s pensionable service under it, means—

(a)in a case where the scheme provides for the member only a guaranteed minimum pension, the earliest age at which the member is entitled to receive the guaranteed minimum pension on retirement from any employment to which the scheme applies; and

(b)in any other case, the earliest age at which the member is entitled to receive benefits (other than a guaranteed minimum pension) on his retirement from such employment.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1) any scheme rule making special provision as to early retirement on grounds of ill-health or otherwise is to be disregarded.

Valid from 01/12/2001

[F3175A Insurer and long-term insurance businessN.I.

(1)In this Act “insurer” means—

(a)a person who has permission under Part 4 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to effect or carry out contracts of insurance, or

(b)an EEA firm of the kind mentioned in paragraph 5(d) of Schedule 3 to that Act, which has permission under paragraph 15 of that Schedule (as a result of qualifying for authorisation under paragraph 12 of that Schedule) to effect or carry out contracts of insurance.

(2)In this Act “long term insurance business” means business which consists of the effecting or carrying out of contracts of long-term insurance.

(3)This section must be read with—

(a)section 22 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

(b)any relevant order under that section; and

(c)Schedule 2 to that Act.]

Textual Amendments

F3S. 175A inserted (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3649, arts. 1, 137(1)

176 General interpretation.N.I.

(1)In this Act—

(2)References to employers in the provisions of this Act (other than sections 119 to 123, 153 [F24and 156] (“the excluded provisions”)) are to be treated, in relation to persons within the application of an occupational pension scheme and qualifying or prospectively qualifying for its benefits, as including references to persons who in relation to them and their employment are treated by regulations as being employers for the purposes of those provisions.

(3)Subject to any such regulations, references to an employer in any of the provisions of this Act (other than the excluded provisions or section 2, Chapter I of Part IV, Part VIII so far as it applies for the purposes of Chapter I of Part IV, sections F25. . .149(2), 154(1) to (5), 158, 159 F26 .. . . and 171) shall, in relation to an earner employed in an office with emoluments, be construed as references to—

(a)such person as may be prescribed in relation to that office; or

(b)if no person is prescribed, the government department, public authority or body of persons responsible for paying the emoluments of that office.

(4)Regulations may for any purpose of any provision of this Act (other than the excluded provisions or section 2, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 39, 40, 107, 156, 160 or 161) prescribe the persons who are to be regarded as members or prospective members of an occupational pension scheme and as to the times at which and the circumstances in which a person is to be treated as becoming, or as ceasing to be, a member or prospective member.

(5)In sections 161 and 162—

(a)references to the United Kingdom include references to the territorial waters of the United Kingdom; and

(b)references to Northern Ireland include references to the territorial waters of the United Kingdom adjacent to Northern Ireland.

(6)Any reference in section 180 or 181 to an order or regulations under this Act includes a reference to an order or regulations made under any provision of an enactment passed after this Act and directed to be construed as one with it; but this subsection applies only so far as a contrary intention is not expressed in the enactment so passed, and shall be without prejudice to the generality of any such direction.

(7)The M8Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to this Act—

(a)as it applies to a Measure of the Assembly;

(b)as if any reference in that Act to an enactment or an Act included a reference to this Act.

(8)For the purposes of Part III of the M9Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (validity of Measures of the Assembly, including Orders in Council under the M10Northern Ireland Act 1974), provisions of this Act which re-enact provisions of such an Order are to be treated as provisions of such an Order.

Textual Amendments

F4Definition of “accrued rights premium” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F5Definition of “the Board” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F6Definition of “contracted-out protected rights premium” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F7Words in the definition of “contributions equivalent premium” in s. 176(1) substituted (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 147, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(ii); S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F8S. 176(1): Definition of “employed earner” substituted (1.12.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 25.4.2000) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), arts. 1(5)(a), 17, Sch. 2 para. 2(b) (with transitional provisions in art. 75(1)); S.R. 2000/133, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. II

F9Definition of “equal access requirements” in s. 176(1) repealed (1.1.1996) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 119, 168, Sch. 1 para. 36(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. I (with art. 118(5)(6)); S.R. 1995/477, art. 2(b), Sch. Pt. II

F10Words in the definition of “industrial tribunal” in s. 176(1) substituted (24.9.1996) by S.I. 1996/1921 (N.I. 18), arts. 1(2), 26, Sch. 1 para. 10

F11Definition of “limited revaluation premium” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F12Words in s. 176(1) substituted (retrospective to 1.1.1997) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2012 (c. 3 (N.I.)), ss. 27(1)(5), 34(3); S.R. 2014/203, art. 2

F13Definition of “money purchase scheme” in s. 176(1) substituted (19.12.1995) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 165, Sch. 4 para. 13(a); S.R. 1995/477, art. 2(a), Sch. Pt. I

F14Definition of “pensionable age” in s. 176(1) substituted (16.12.1995) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 1(3)(a), 123, Sch. 2 Pt. III para. 13

F15S. 176(1): Definition of “pension debit” inserted (1.12.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.12.2000) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), arts. 1(5)(a), 29(5); S.R. 2000/133, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. IV

F16Definition of “personal pension protected rights premium” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F17S. 176(1): Definition of “the prescribed equivalent” repealed (6.4.2000) by 1999 c. 30, s. 88, Sch.13 Pt. VII; S.I. 1999/3420, art. 4(c)(e)

F18Definition of “the principal appointed day” in s. 176(1) inserted (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 147, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(iii); S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F19Definition of “the Regulatory Authority” in s. 176(1) inserted (6.4.1996 for certain purposes otherwise 6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 119, Sch. 1 para. 36(a)(ii) (with art. 118(5)(6)); S.R. 1996/91, art. 2(d), Sch. Pt. IV; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F20Word in the definition of “rights” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 168, Sch. 5 Pt. IV; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F21S. 176(1): Definition of “self-employed pension arrangement” ceased to have effect (1.12.1999 for certain purposes only) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), arts. 1(5)(a), 17, Sch. 2 para. 2(2)(c) (with transitional provisions in art. 75(1)) and repealed (25.4.2000) by S.I. 3147, art. 17, Sch. 10 Pt. I; S.R. 2000/133, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. II

F22Definition of “state scheme premium” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F23Definition of “transfer premium” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F24Words in s. 176(2) substituted (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 119, Sch. 1 para. 36(b) (with art. 118(5)(6)); S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

Marginal Citations

[F27176BMoney purchase benefits: supplementaryN.I.

(1)This section applies for the purposes of the definition of “money purchase benefits” in section 176(1).

(2)A benefit other than a pension in payment falls within this section if its rate or amount is calculated solely by reference to assets which (because of the nature of the calculation) must necessarily suffice for the purpose of its provision to or in respect of the member.

(3)A benefit which is a pension in payment falls within this section if—

(a)its provision to or in respect of the member is secured by an annuity contract or insurance policy made or taken out with an insurer, and

(b)at all times before coming into payment the pension was a benefit falling within this section by virtue of subsection (2).

(4)For the purposes of subsection (2) it is immaterial if the calculation of the rate or amount of the benefit includes deductions for administrative expenses or commission.

(5)In this section references to a pension do not include income withdrawal or dependants’ income withdrawal (within the meaning of paragraphs 7 and 21 of Schedule 28 to the Finance Act 2004).]

Textual Amendments

Subordinate legislation, etc.N.I.

177 Orders and regulations (general provisions).N.I.

(1)[F28Subject to subsection (7)] Any power under this Act to make regulations or orders (except a power of F29. . . the court to make orders F30. . .) and the powers to make rules under sections 145(2) and 148(1) shall be exercisable by statutory rule for the purposes of the M11Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979.

(2)Where a power conferred by this Act is expressed to be exercisable for alternative purposes it may be exercised in relation to the same case for any or all of those purposes.

(3)Any power to make regulations or an order for the purposes of any one provision of this Act shall be without prejudice to any power to make regulations or an order for the purposes of any other provision.

(4)Any power conferred by this Act to make regulations or an order shall include power to make such incidental, supplementary, consequential or transitional provision as appears to the authority making the regulations or order to be expedient for the purposes of the regulations or order.

(5)Subsection (4) has effect—

(a)in its application to regulations and orders made under the following provisions, namely Chapter I of Part IV, Part VIII so far as it applies for the purposes of Chapter I of Part IV, sections F31. . . 149(2), 154(1) to (5), 158, 159 F32. . . and 171, with the omission of the words “consequential or transitional”; and

(b)in its application to orders made under section 149(8), with the omission of the word “consequential”.

(6)Any power conferred on the Department by this Act to make any regulations or order (except an order under section 149(8)), where the power is not expressed to be exercisable with the consent of the Department of Finance and Personnel, shall if that Department so directs be exercisable only in conjunction with it.

(7)[F33Any power conferred on the Secretary of State to make regulations or orders (other than an order under section 162) is exercisable by statutory instrument, and subsections (2) to (4) and section 178(1) apply to regulations or orders made in exercise of any such power of the Secretary of State as they apply to regulations made by the Department.]

(8)[F34Any power] conferred on the Secretary of State F35. . . to make regulations [F36or orders] shall if the Treasury so direct be exercisable only in conjunction with them.

Textual Amendments

F28Words in s. 177(1) inserted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 75(2); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F30Words in s. 177(1) omitted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by virtue of S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 75(2); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2 and repealed (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(3), 24(3), Sch. 9 Pt. I; S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F31Words in s. 177(5)(a) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 168, Sch. 5 Pt. IV; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F33S. 177(7) substituted (retrospective to 1.4.1999) by 1999 c. 30, s. 81, Sch. 11 para. 27(1)(2)

F34Words in s. 177(8) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 75(4)(a); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F35S. 177(8): Words omitted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by virtue of S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 75(4)(b); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2 and words “under section 160” repealed (1.4.1999) by virtue of S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(3), 24(3), Sch. 9 Pt. I; S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F36Words in s. 177(8) inserted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 75(4)(c); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 177(2)-(4)(6) extended (12.2.2001 for specified purposes, otherwiseprosp.) by 2000 c. 4 (N.I.), s. 52, Sch. 5 Pt. II para. 15 (with s. 66(6)); S.R. 2000/374, art. 2(e) (and art. 2(e)(ii) was omitted by S.R. 2001/141, art. 3)

Marginal Citations

178 Sub-delegation.N.I.

(1)Without prejudice to any specific provisions in this Act, a power conferred by this Act to make regulations or an order (other than regulations and orders made under Chapter I of Part IV, Part VIII so far as it applies for the purposes of Chapter I of Part IV, sections 132 to 134, 135(2) and (3), 136, 137, 138(1) to (4), 139, 149(2), 154(1) to (5), 158, 159 F37. . . and 171) includes power to provide for a person to exercise a discretion in dealing with any matter.

F38(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3)Regulations under sections 23(3), 59(2) [F39and 93(1)]may provide that the values there mentioned shall be calculated and verified F40. . .—

(a)in such manner as may, in the particular case, be approved—

(i)by a prescribed person;

(ii)by a person with prescribed professional qualifications or experience; or

(iii)by a person approved by the Department; or

(b)in accordance with guidance prepared [F41and revised] by a prescribed body;

F42. . .

F43179

Textual Amendments

180 Consultations about other regulations.N.I.

(1)The power of the Department to make regulations under section 158 shall be exercisable only after consultation with the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies.

(2)Before making any regulations under paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 [F44the Department or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State] shall consult with such bodies concerned with employments of the class in question as appear to it [F45or him] fairly to represent the interests of the employers and earners in those employments.

Textual Amendments

F44Words in s. 180(2) substituted (11.11.1999) by 1999 c. 30, ss. 81, 89(4)(d), Sch. 11 para. 28(a)

F45Words in s. 180(2) substituted (11.11.1999) by 1999 c. 30, ss. 81, 89(4)(d), Sch. 11 para. 28(b)

181 Assembly, etc. control of regulations and orders.N.I.

(1)The regulations and orders to which this subsection applies shall be laid before the Assembly after being made and shall take effect on such date as may be specified in the regulations or order, but shall (without prejudice to the validity of anything done thereunder or to the making of new regulations or a new order) cease to have effect upon the expiration of a period of six months from that date unless at some time before the expiration of that period the regulations have, or the order has, been approved by a resolution of the Assembly.

(2)Subsection (1) applies to regulations made by the Department under section 60(1) [F46or 164(2)] and to orders made by it under section 149(8).

(3)Subsection (1) does not apply to—

(a)regulations under any provision mentioned in subsection (2) which are to be made for the purpose of consolidating regulations thereby revoked;

(b)regulations which, in so far as they are made under any provision mentioned in subsection (2), only replace provisions of previous regulations with new provisions to the same effect.

(4)Subject to subsection (6), all regulations and orders made by the Department under this Act (other than regulations or orders to which subsection (1) applies and orders made under section 186) shall be subject to negative resolution.

(5)This subsection applies to any regulations or order made under this Act which—

(a)but for subsection (6), would be subject to negative resolution, and

(b)are or is contained in a statutory rule which includes any regulations or order subject to the confirmatory procedure.

(6)Any regulations or order to which subsection (5) applies shall not be subject to negative resolution, but shall be subject to the confirmatory procedure.

(7)Subject to subsection (9), regulations made under this Act by the Secretary of State shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(8)This subsection applies to any regulations made under this Act which—

(a)but for subsection (9), would be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament, and

(b)are contained in an instrument which is subject to any requirement that a draft of the instrument be laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(9)Any regulations to which subsection (8) applies shall not be subject as mentioned in subsection (8)(a), but shall be subject to the procedure described in subsection (8)(b).

[F47(9A)A statutory instrument containing provision under section 38, 38B or 41A shall not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.]

(10)In this section “the confirmatory procedure” means the procedure described in subsection (1).

Textual Amendments

F46Words in s. 181(2) inserted (23.7.1996 for certain purposes otherwise 6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 151(2); S.R. 1996/307, art. 2(a), Sch. Pt. I; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F47S. 181(9A) inserted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 76; S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

Supplemental provisionsN.I.

182 Repeals.N.I.

(1)The enactments specified in Parts I and II of Schedule 4 are repealed to the extent specified in the third column.

(2)The subordinate legislation specified in Part III of that Schedule is revoked to the extent specified in the third column.

(3)The repeals and revocations have effect subject to any relevant savings in Schedule 5.

Commencement Information

I1S. 182 partly in force; s. 182 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 186(2)(3); s. 182(1) in force for specified purposes at 7.2.1994 by S.R. 1994/17, art. 2

183 Transitional provisions and savings.N.I.

(1)Schedule 5 (which makes transitional provision and contains savings in connection with the repeals and revocations made by this Act) shall have effect.

(2)Nothing in that Schedule affects the operation of section 28 of the M12Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (general savings implied on repeal).

Marginal Citations

184 Prospective and c183.onsequential amendments.N.I.

Schedule 6 (which re-enacts or makes consequential amendments of provisions which make prospective amendments of enactments including those repealed by this Act, so that the re-enacted or amended provisions prospectively amend this Act and other enactments) and Schedule 7 (which makes other consequential amendments) shall have effect, subject to any relevant transitional provisions in Schedule 5.

Commencement Information

I2S. 184 partly in force; s. 184 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 186(2); s. 184 in force for specified purposes at 7.2.1994 by S.R. 1994/17, art. 2

185 Transitory modifications.N.I.

Schedule 8 (which makes transitory modifications of this Act pending the commencement of the provisions there mentioned) shall have effect.

186 Short title, commencement and extent.N.I.

(1)This Act may be cited as the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993.

(2)Subject to the provisions of Schedule 8, this Act shall come into operation on such day as the Department may by order appoint.

(3)As respects the coming into operation of—

(a)Part II of Schedule 4 and section 182(1) so far as it relates to it; or

(b)Schedule 6 and section 184 so far as it relates to it,

an order under subsection (2) may appoint different days from the day appointed for the other provisions of this Act or different days for different purposes.

(4)Subject to subsection (5), this Act extends to Northern Ireland only.

(5)The amendments in Schedule 7 of provisions of the M13Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 and the M14Finance Act 1989 have the same extent as the provisions amended.

Subordinate Legislation Made

P1S. 186(2)(3) power partly exercised: 7.2.1994 appointed for specified provisions by S.R. 1994/17, art. 2

Marginal Citations