The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Automatic Enrolment) Regulations 2010

[F1PART 7AE+W+SCertification that a quality or alternative requirement is satisfied

Effect of a certificate under section 28 of the ActE+W+S

32A.  Subject to regulation 32H, a scheme to which section 28 of the Act applies is to be taken to satisfy the relevant quality requirement in relation to each of an employer’s relevant jobholders if the certificate in question is given in accordance with regulations 32B to 32D in relation to the employer and those jobholders.

Giving of a certificate, retention and disclosureE+W+S

32B.(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a certificate under section 28(1) of the Act must be given by the employer or by a person who is authorised by the employer to give the certificate on its behalf.

(2) The person who gives the certificate must have regard to any guidance that is issued by the Secretary of State.

(3) A certificate may be given for a certification period of eighteen months or any part of such a period.

(4) A certificate must be given no later than the end of a period of one month beginning with the first day of the certification period.

(5) The employer or a person as referred to in paragraph (1) may, at any time before the end of the certification period, amend the certificate so that the certification period ends on a different day, being a day after the day on which the amendment is made and not later than the last day of the period of eighteen months beginning with the first day of the certification period.

(6) Where a certificate has been amended under paragraph (5), it may be amended again under that paragraph and so on with reference to any further amendment that is made under that paragraph.

(7) The employer must retain the certificate for a period of 6 years after the end of the certification period and must provide a copy of the certificate to the Regulator on receiving from the Regulator a notification requesting such a copy.

(8) The employer must, where a request for a copy of the certificate is received within the period of 6 years after the end of the certification period, from—

(a)a relevant jobholder; or

(b)any independent trade union recognised to any extent for the purposes of collective bargaining in relation to any relevant jobholder,

send a copy of the certificate to the person who requested it, within a period of 2 months after the day on which the employer received the request.

(9) For the purpose of paragraph (8), “independent trade union” has the meaning given in section 235(1) of the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Form of certificateE+W+S

32C.  A certificate under section 28(1) of the Act must be in writing and contain the following information –

(a)whether the certificate relates to part of a scheme and, if so, which part;

(b)the employer pension scheme reference within the meaning of regulation 1 of the Employers’ Duties (Registration and Compliance) Regulations 2010;

(c)whether the certificate relates to all of the jobholders of the employer who are active members of the scheme or part-scheme in question;

(d)where the certificate relates to only some of the jobholders of the employer who are active members of the scheme or part-scheme (“the active members”) —

(i)the names and roles of the relevant jobholders;

(ii)where one or more of the active members have not been included in the certificate because they have chosen to pay contributions at a level such that the relevant quality requirement or alternative requirement is not met, the names and roles of those active members; and

(iii)where one or more of the active members have not been included in the certificate because, in the opinion of the person who gives the certificate, the contributions made by the employer and the member will clearly meet the relevant quality requirement, the names and roles of those active members;

(e)where the certificate is given with respect to an alternative requirement—

(i)under regulation 32E or 32G, which of the sets of requirements in regulation 32E applies; or

(ii)under regulation 32F, which of the sets of requirements in that regulation applies;

(f)where the certificate relates to a hybrid scheme to which regulation 43 applies, the percentages referred to in regulation 43(4)(a) and (b);

(g)where there is an upper limit to the amount of contributions that may be paid as referred to in regulation 32E(5) or 32F(8), that limit;

(h)the certification period; and

(i)whether that period has been amended and, if so, the previous certification period or periods.

Renewal of CertificateE+W+S

32D.(1) Paragraph (2) applies where—

(a)it is proposed to give, by or on behalf of an employer, a certificate under section 28(1) of the Act (“the further certificate”); and

(b)the certification period of one or more reference certificates has ended, or will end, within a period of 2 years before the day on which it is proposed that the certification period of the further certificate will begin.

(2) Where this paragraph applies, before the further certificate is given, the employer must—

(a)assess whether, during the certification period of any reference certificate as referred to in paragraph (1)(b) and in relation to the jobholders to whom that certificate applies, all of the elements of the alternative requirement or relevant quality requirement were, or will be, met;

(b)where an element of the alternative requirement or relevant quality requirement was not, or will not be, met, consider what (if any) action needs to be taken by the employer in order to ensure that the alternative requirement or relevant quality requirement will be met in relation to the jobholders to whom the further certificate will apply, for the proposed period of the further certificate, and take any such action;

(c)compile a record of —

(i)the assessment made under sub-paragraph (a); and

(ii)the action (if any) that the employer takes, as referred to in sub-paragraph (b);

(d)retain that record for a period of 6 years beginning with the day on which the record was compiled; and

(e)provide a copy of that record to the Regulator on receiving a notification from the Regulator requesting such a copy.

(3) Paragraph (2) applies even where, under regulation 32H(2), in relation to a reference certificate and the jobholders to whom it applies, the scheme is not to be treated by virtue of regulation 32A as having satisfied the relevant quality requirement.

(4) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) to (3), a “reference certificate” means a certificate under section 28(1) of the Act that has been given, by or on behalf of the employer, in relation to some or all of the jobholders to whom the further certificate is to apply.

Alternative requirements for a money purchase schemeE+W+S

32E.(1) [F2Subject to paragraph (1A),] in relation to a money purchase scheme to which section 20 of the Act applies F3... the prescribed alternative requirement is the first, second or third set of requirements below.

[F4(1A) In relation to a money purchase scheme—

(a)to which section 20 of the Act applies; and

(b)which provides collective money purchase benefits,

the prescribed alternative requirement is the first, second or third set of requirements below or, in respect of any jobholders accruing rights to benefits under a collective money purchase scheme, the requirements set out in regulation 32EA.]

(2) The first set of requirements is that under the scheme —

(a)the employer of the relevant jobholder must pay contributions in respect of the jobholder;

(b)the employer’s contribution must be equal to or more than 4% of the amount of the relevant jobholder’s pensionable earnings in the certification period;

(c)the total amount of the contributions paid by the relevant jobholder and the employer must be equal to or more than 9% of the jobholder’s pensionable earnings in the certification period; and

(d)the pensionable earnings of the relevant jobholder must be equal to or more than the basic pay of that jobholder.

(3) The second set of requirements is that—

(a)under the scheme—

(i)the employer of the relevant jobholder must pay contributions in respect of the jobholder;

(ii)the employer’s contribution must be equal to or more than 3% of the amount of the relevant jobholder’s pensionable earnings in the certification period;

(iii)the total amount of the contributions paid by the relevant jobholder and the employer must be equal to or more than 8% of the amount of the jobholder’s pensionable earnings in the certification period; and

(iv)the pensionable earnings of the relevant jobholder must be equal to or more than the basic pay of that jobholder; and

(b)taking all of the relevant jobholders together, the pensionable earnings of those jobholders constitute at least 85% of the earnings of those jobholders in the certification period.

(4) The third set of requirements is that under the scheme—

(a)the employer of the relevant jobholder must pay contributions in respect of the jobholder;

(b)the employer’s contribution must be equal to or more than 3% of the amount of the relevant jobholder’s earnings in the certification period; and

(c)the total amount of the contributions paid by the relevant jobholder and the employer must be equal to or more than 7% of the amount of the jobholder’s earnings in that period.

(5) Subject to the proviso in paragraph (6), for the purposes of paragraphs (1) to (4), a scheme as referred to in paragraph (1) may satisfy the first, second or third set of requirements even though under the scheme there is an upper limit (however expressed) to the amount of contributions that may be paid by the employer or the relevant jobholder or both of those persons.

(6) The proviso referred to is that the upper limit must not result in the payment of contributions by the employer, or by the employer and the relevant jobholder, that are less than those required by the relevant quality requirement.

(7) For the purposes of paragraphs (2) to (6), a reference to “the relevant jobholder” is a reference to each of the relevant jobholders.

[F5Alternative quality requirements for a collective money purchase schemeE+W+S

32EA.(1) In relation to—

(a)a money purchase scheme to which section 20 of the Act applies, under which all the benefits that may be provided are collective money purchase benefits;

(b)a money purchase scheme to which section 20 of the Act applies, in respect of any jobholders accruing rights to benefits under a collective money purchase scheme; and

(c)a hybrid scheme—

(i)to the extent that requirements within section 24(1)(a) of the Act apply; and

(ii)in respect of any jobholders accruing rights to benefits under a collective money purchase scheme,

the prescribed alternative requirement is set out in paragraph (2).

(2) The requirement is, subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), that taking all relevant jobholders together, the contributions by, or on behalf of, or in respect of, those relevant jobholders over the certification period are of a total amount equal to at least the prescribed percentage (specified in paragraph (7)) of the applicable category of total relevant earnings for those jobholders (specified in paragraph (6)) over that period.

(3) Where there is or was, as the case may be, a difference in the rights to benefits accruing under a collective money purchase scheme for different groups of relevant jobholders over the certification period as regards all or any of the criteria set out in paragraph (4)(a), and that difference (or those differences taken together) mean that there is or was as the case may be a material difference in the cost of providing those rights, the relevant jobholders for the purposes of paragraph (2) are the relevant jobholders in each such group.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3)—

(a)the criteria are—

(i)the rate at which rights to benefits under a collective money purchase scheme accrue or accrued;

(ii)the provision of survivor’s benefits;

(iii)the normal pension age;

(iv)the definition of ‘pensionable earnings’ used by the scheme;

(v)differences in the calculation or methodology applying to the revaluation and indexation of benefits;

(vi)the calculation of service; and

(vii)the terms for retirement before normal pension age; and

(b)whether a difference in cost is a material difference is to be determined by the actuary.

(5) Where, after the certification period begins (whether or not it has ended), a change is made to the benefits provided to the relevant jobholders under a collective money purchase scheme, the certification period is a period of 18 months commencing with the day on which that change takes effect.

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (2), the relevant earnings are the earnings which the scheme uses to determine pensionable earnings for the purposes of providing collective money purchase benefits to the relevant jobholders, provided that they must be equal to or more than those relevant jobholders’ earnings in one of the following categories—

(a)qualifying earnings;

(b)basic pay;

(c)basic pay in circumstances where, taking all the relevant jobholders together, the pensionable earnings of those jobholders constitute at least 85% of the earnings of those jobholders in the certification period;

(d)earnings; or

(e)basic pay above—

(i)the amount of the lower earnings limit specified for the purposes of section 5(1)(a)(i) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (earnings limits and thresholds for Class 1 contributions); or

(ii)the amount of the basic state pension specified in the first figure in section 44(4) of that Act (category A retirement pension).

(7) For the purposes of this regulation, the prescribed percentage is, in relation to the category of earnings described in—

(a)paragraph (6)(a) and (c), 10%;

(b)paragraph (6)(b), 11%;

(c)paragraph (6)(d), 9%; and

(d)paragraph (6)(e), 13%.

(8) Where the scheme does not provide pension benefits payable on the death of a relevant jobholder, the respective percentages mentioned in paragraph (7) are to be reduced by 1%.]

Alternative requirements for a personal pension schemeE+W+S

32F.(1) In relation to a personal pension scheme to which section 26 of the Act applies or which is referred to in regulation 32J(1), the prescribed alternative requirement is the first, second or third set of requirements below.

(2) The first set of requirements is that —

(a)all of the benefits that may be provided to the relevant jobholder under the scheme are money purchase benefits;

(b)there is, in relation to the relevant jobholder, an agreement between the provider of the scheme and the employer under which—

(i)the employer must pay contributions in respect of the jobholder;

(ii)the employer’s contribution must be equal to or more than 4% of the amount of the jobholder’s pensionable earnings in the certification period; and

(iii)the pensionable earnings of the jobholder must be equal to or more than the basic pay of that jobholder;

(c)if there is a shortfall, there is an agreement between the provider of the scheme and the relevant jobholder which provides that the jobholder must pay contributions which are equal to or more than the shortfall; and

(d)there are direct payment arrangements between the relevant jobholder and the employer within the meaning of section 111A of the Pension Schemes Act 1993.

(3) In paragraph (2)(c), “shortfall” means the difference (if any) between—

(a)the employer’s contributions in respect of the relevant jobholder under the agreement referred to in paragraph (2)(b); and

(b)9% of the amount of the relevant jobholder’s pensionable earnings in the certification period, being earnings which are equal to or more than the basic pay of that jobholder.

(4) The second set of requirements is that—

(a)all of the benefits that may be provided to the relevant jobholder under the scheme are money purchase benefits;

(b)there is, in relation to the relevant jobholder, an agreement between the provider of the scheme and the employer under which—

(i)the employer must pay contributions in respect of the jobholder;

(ii)the employer’s contribution must be equal to or more than 3% of the amount of the jobholder’s pensionable earnings in the certification period; and

(iii)the pensionable earnings of the jobholder must be equal to or more than the basic pay of that jobholder;

(c)if there is a shortfall, there is an agreement between the provider of the scheme and the relevant jobholder which provides that the jobholder must pay contributions which are equal to or more than the shortfall;

(d)taking all of the relevant jobholders together, the pensionable earnings of the jobholders constitute at least 85% of the earnings of the jobholders in the certification period; and

(e)there are direct payment arrangements between the relevant jobholder and the employer within the meaning of section 111A of the Pension Schemes Act 1993.

(5) In paragraph (4)(c), “shortfall” means the difference (if any) between—

(a)the employer’s contributions in respect of the relevant jobholder under the agreement referred to in paragraph (4)(b); and

(b)8% of the amount of the relevant jobholder’s pensionable earnings in the certification period, being earnings which are equal to or more than the basic pay of that jobholder.

(6) The third set of requirements is that—

(a)all of the benefits that may be provided to the relevant jobholder under the scheme are money purchase benefits;

(b)there is, in relation to the relevant jobholder, an agreement between the provider of the scheme and the employer under which—

(i)the employer must pay contributions in respect of the jobholder; and

(ii)the employer’s contribution must be equal to or more than 3% of the amount of the jobholder’s earnings in the certification period;

(c)if there is a shortfall, there is an agreement between the provider of the scheme and the relevant jobholder which provides that the jobholder must pay contributions which are equal to or more than the shortfall; and

(d)there are direct payment arrangements between the relevant jobholder and the employer within the meaning of section 111A of the Pension Schemes Act 1993.

(7) In paragraph (6)(c), “shortfall” means the difference (if any) between—

(a)the employer’s contributions in respect of the relevant jobholder under the agreement referred to in paragraph (6)(b); and

(b)7% of the amount of the relevant jobholder’s earnings in the certification period.

(8) Subject to the proviso in paragraph (9), for the purposes of paragraphs (1) to (7), a scheme as referred to in paragraph (1) may satisfy the first, second or third set of requirements even though under the agreements referred to above there is an upper limit (however expressed) to the amount of contributions that may be paid by the employer or the relevant jobholder or both of those persons.

(9) The proviso referred to is that the upper limit must not result in the payment of contributions by the employer, or by the employer and the relevant jobholder, that are less than those required by the relevant quality requirement.

(10) For the purposes of paragraphs (2) to (9), a reference to “the relevant jobholder” is a reference to each of the relevant jobholders.

Alternative requirements for a hybrid schemeE+W+S

32G.(1) Subject to paragraph (2), in relation to a hybrid scheme to the extent to which requirements within section 24(1)(a) of the Act apply or which is referred to in regulation 32J(2), the prescribed alternative requirement is any of the sets of requirements set out in regulation 32E in relation to a money purchase scheme [F6or, in respect of any jobholders accruing rights to benefits under a collective money purchase scheme, the set of requirements set out in regulation 32EA].

(2) Where, by virtue of a rule made under section 24(2) to (4) of the Act, regulation 43(2) to (4) applies in relation to a hybrid scheme as referred to in paragraph (1), the prescribed alternative requirement is any of the sets of requirements set out in regulation 32E in relation to a money purchase scheme, as modified by regulation 43 but as if regulation 43 were modified as follows—

(a)in paragraph (2), for “paragraph (a) quality requirements” substitute “elements of the alternative requirement”;

(b)for paragraph (3)(a), substitute—

(a)all of the elements of the alternative requirement are met apart from either or both of the employer’s contribution requirement (“requirement X”) and the total contribution requirement;;

(c)for paragraph (4)(a), substitute—

(a)the extent to which requirement X is met as a proportion of the minimum rate of employer’s contribution specified in 32E(2)(b), (3)(a)(ii) or (4)(b), as the case may be; and

(d)after paragraph (6) of regulation 43, add—

(7) For the purposes of paragraphs (2) to (4)—

“the alternative requirement” means any of the sets of requirements set out in regulation 32E in relation to a money purchase scheme;

“the employer’s contribution requirement” means the requirement set out in regulation 32E(2)(b), 3(a)(ii) or 4(b), as the case may be; and

“the total contribution requirement” means the requirement set out in regulation 32E(2)(c), 3(a)(iii) or (4)(c), as the case may be..

Scheme not to be treated as satisfying the relevant quality requirement in certain circumstancesE+W+S

32H.(1) Where—

(a)a certificate has been given in relation to an employer and its relevant jobholders with respect to a relevant quality requirement or an alternative requirement under regulation 32E, 32F or 32G;

(b)the Regulator is of the view referred to in paragraph (3); and

(c)one of the conditions referred to in paragraph (4) is, or both of them are, satisfied,

the Regulator may give to the employer a notice as referred to in paragraph (5).

[F7(1A) Where—

(a)a certificate has been given in relation to an employer and its relevant jobholders with respect to an alternative quality requirement under regulation 32EA;

(b)the Regulator is of the view that, when the certificate was given, there were not reasonable grounds for a person to be of the opinion that the scheme was able to satisfy the requirement referred to in regulation 32EA(2); and

(c)in relation to all or any part of the certification period, the requirement referred to in regulation 32EA(2) was not met,

the Regulator may give to the employer a notice as referred to in paragraph (8A).]

(2) Subject to paragraphs (9) and (10), where the Regulator gives a notice as referred to in paragraph (5) [F8or paragraph (8A)] and a requirement of the notice is not complied with within the time specified in the notice, the scheme is not to be treated by virtue of regulation 32A as having satisfied the relevant quality requirement in relation to the relevant jobholders.

(3) The view referred to is that, when the certificate was given, there were not reasonable grounds for a person to be of the opinion that the scheme was able to satisfy the relevant quality requirement or the applicable alternative requirement, as the case may be, with respect to one or more of the relevant jobholders throughout the certification period.

(4) The conditions referred to are that, in relation to all or any part of the certification period and one or more of the relevant jobholders—

(a)a scheme shortfall has occurred;

(b)where the alternative requirement in regulation 32E(3) (including as applied by 32G) or 32F(4) applied, the condition referred to regulation 32E(3)(b) or 32F(4)(d) was not met.

(5) The notice referred to is a notice with respect to one or more of the relevant jobholders (not necessarily all of the relevant jobholders referred to in paragraph (4)) and the relevant payment period, requiring the employer, within the period specified in the notice, to pay to the trustees, manager or provider of the scheme —

(a)subject to sub-paragraph (b), where paragraph (4)(a) applies, the scheme shortfall; or

(b)where paragraph (4)(b) applies (whether or not paragraph (4)(a) also applies), the shortfall between the contributions that were required to be paid by the employer and those relevant jobholders under the requirements of the scheme or the agreements referred to in regulation 32F(4), as the case may be, and the contributions that were required to be paid by those persons under the first set of requirements in regulation 32E or 32F respectively.

(6) A notice as referred to in paragraph (5) may also require the employer, within a period specified in the notice, to amend the certificate, under regulation 32B, so that the certification period ends on a specified day, being a day before the last day of the certification period but not before the last day of the relevant payment period.

(7) A notice as referred to in paragraph (5) must be copied to—

(a)in the case of a money purchase or hybrid scheme, the trustees or manager of the scheme; or

(b)in the case of a personal pension scheme, the provider of the scheme.

(8) Where a notice as referred to in paragraph (5) has been given and, under regulation 32B, the employer amends the certificate so that the certification period ends before the last day of the relevant payment period—

(a)the relevant payment period shall be treated as though it ended on the last day of the new certification period;

(b)the employer must, within a period of two weeks beginning with the day on which the certificate was amended, notify the Regulator in writing of the amendment; and

(c)the Regulator may decide to alter the period, as set out in the notice as referred to in paragraph (5), within which the employer must pay a shortfall of contributions as referred to in that paragraph.

[F9(8A) The notice referred to is a notice requiring the employer, within the period specified in the notice, to pay to the trustees or managers of the scheme the shortfall between the contributions that are required to be paid by the employer and the relevant jobholders under the scheme, and the contributions that were required to be paid to meet the requirement in regulation 32EA(2) during the certification period.

(8B) A notice as referred to in paragraph (8A) may also require the employer, within a period specified in the notice, to amend the certificate, under regulation 32B, so that the certification period ends on a specified day, being a day before the last day of the certification period but not before the last day of the relevant payment period.

(8C) A notice as referred to in paragraph (8A) must be copied to the trustees or manager of the scheme.

(8D) Where a notice as referred to in paragraph (8A) has been given and the employer amends the certificate under regulation 32B(5) so that the certification period ends before the last day of the relevant payment period—

(a)the relevant payment period shall be treated as though it ended on the last day of the new certification period;

(b)the employer must, within a period of two weeks beginning with the day on which the certificate was amended, notify the Regulator in writing of the amendment; and

(c)the Regulator may decide to alter the period, as set out in the notice as referred to in paragraph (8A), within which the employer must pay a shortfall of contributions as referred to in that paragraph.]

(9) Where the Regulator decides under paragraph (8)(c) [F10or paragraph (8D)(c)] to alter the period within which the employer must pay a shortfall, the Regulator must give a notice to the employer informing the employer of the new period within which the shortfall must be paid.

(10) For the purposes of this regulation—

(a)“the relevant payment period” means a period, set out in the notice as referred to in paragraph (5) [F11or paragraph (8A)], that constitutes all or part of the certification period; and

(b)“scheme shortfall” means the shortfall between the contributions that are required to be paid by the employer and a relevant jobholder under the scheme, contribution agreements or like agreements referred to in regulation 32F, as the case may be, and the contributions that are required to be paid by those persons under the relevant quality requirement or the applicable alternative requirement (ignoring the requirements in regulations 32E(3)(b) and 32F(4)(d)), as the case may be.

Contributions under alternative requirements during transitional periodsE+W+S

32I.(1) During the first transitional period referred to in section 29(1) and the second transitional period referred to in section 29(3) of the ActF12... there are substituted for the percentages referred to in the provisions in the first column of the table below the percentage shown in the corresponding entry for the transitional period in question.

Provision of Regulations1st Transitional Period2nd Transitional Period

Regulations 32E(2)(b) and 32F(2)(b)(ii)

(first set of requirements – employer)

2%3%

Regulations 32E(2)(c) and 32F(3)(b)

(first set of requirements –

total contributions)

3%6%

Regulations 32E(3)(a)(ii) and 32F(4)(b)(ii)

(second set of requirements – employer)

1%2%

Regulations 32E(3)(a)(iii) and 32F(5)(b)

(second set of requirements – total contributions)

2%5%

Regulations 32E(4)(b) and 32F(6)(b)(ii)

(third set of requirements – employer)

1%2%

Regulations 32E(4)(c) and 32F(7)(b)

(third set of requirements – total contributions)

2%5%

Pension schemes based in an EEA State other than the United KingdomE+W+S

F1332J.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DefinitionsE+W+S

32K.(1) In this Part—

[F14actuary” means an actuary appointed by the scheme or the employer;]

“alternative requirement” means an alternative requirement prescribed by regulation 32E, [F1532EA,] 32F or 32G, including regulations 32E and 32F as modified by regulation 32I;

“basic pay” means the gross earnings of the jobholder from their employment by the employer, disregarding the gross amount of —

(a)

any commission, bonuses, overtime or similar payments;

(b)

any shift premium pay; and

(c)

any reasonable allowance with respect to —

(i)

any duty of the jobholder, such as a duty in connection with the role of fire or bomb warden, that is ancillary to the main duties of the jobholder’s employment;

(ii)

the cost of relocation of the jobholder to a different place of work;

(iii)

in a case not covered by sub-paragraph (ii), the purchase, lease or maintenance of a vehicle;

(iv)

in a case not covered by sub-paragraph (ii) or (iii), the purchase, lease or maintenance of an item;

(v)

in a case not covered by sub-paragraph (ii), (iii) or (iv), the delivery of a service to the jobholder;

“certification period” means the period for which a certificate is in force;

[F14collective money purchase scheme” has the meaning set out in section 1(2) of the Pension Schemes Act 2021;]

“earnings” has the same meaning as in section 13(3) of the Act;

“pensionable earnings” means the gross earnings of the jobholder on which contributions are payable to the pension scheme in question by the employer or the jobholder;

“shift premium pay” means, where the employer applies different rates of pay to different periods of time for which the jobholder works within a certification period, the difference between the earnings that result from the application of the different rates of pay to the periods to which each of them respectively apply and the earnings that would result from the application of the lowest of the different rates of pay to the total time worked during the certification period.

(2) In regulations 32E to 32J and this regulation, “certificate” means a certificate that is given in accordance with regulations 32B to 32D.]