The Police Pensions (Contributions and Additional Voluntary Contributions Provider) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020

Statutory Instruments

2020 No. 188

Public Service Pensions, England And Wales

Police, England And Wales

The Police Pensions (Contributions and Additional Voluntary Contributions Provider) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020

Made

25th February 2020

Laid before Parliament

28th February 2020

Coming into force

1st April 2020

The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers in section 1 of the Police Pensions Act 1976(1) (“the 1976 Act”) and section 3 of, and paragraph 9 of Schedule 3 to, the Public Service Pensions Act 2013(2) (“the 2013 Act”).

In accordance with section 1(1) and (1ZB) of the 1976 Act, before making regulation 2, the Secretary of State consulted the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales and invited the views of the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Police Association for Northern Ireland.

In accordance with section 22(2)(a) of the 2013 Act, before making regulation 3 the Secretary of State consulted representatives of such persons as appeared likely to be affected by those regulations, with a view to reaching agreement.

In accordance with section 22(2)(b) of the 2013 Act, the Secretary of State has laid a report before Parliament.

In accordance with section 1(1) of the 1976 Act and section 3(5) of the 2013 Act, these Regulations are made with the consent of the Treasury(3).

Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Police Pensions (Contributions and Additional Voluntary Contributions Provider) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 1st April 2020 but regulation 2 has effect from 1st January 2020.

(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

Additional Voluntary Contributions Provider

2.—(1) The Police Pensions (Additional Voluntary Contributions) Regulations 1991(4) are amended in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation) in paragraph (3) (defined expressions) in the definition of “approved additional voluntary contributions provider”(5) for “The Equitable Life Assurance Society”, substitute “Utmost Life and Pensions Limited”(6).

Member contributions for scheme years 2020 to 2023

3.—(1) The Police Pensions Regulations 2015(7) are amended in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) In the heading to the table in regulation 170 (rate of member contributions) for “31st March 2020”(8) substitute “31st March 2023”.

We consent

David Rutley

Rebecca Harris

Two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury

24th February 2020

Kit Malthouse

Minister of State

Home Office

25th February 2020

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which extend to England and Wales, make amendments to the Police Pensions (Additional Voluntary Contributions) Regulations 1991 (“the 1991 Regulations”) and the Police Pensions Regulations 2015 (“the 2015 Regulations”).

Regulation 2 substitutes a new approved additional voluntary contributions provider for the purposes of the 1991 Regulations from 1st January 2020. Section 1(5) of the Police Pensions Act 1976 provides for regulations to be framed so as to have effect from a date earlier than the making of the regulations.

Regulation 170 of the 2015 Regulations makes provision for the contributions payable by members of the scheme constituted by the 2015 Regulations to 31st March 2020. Regulation 3 provides for the contribution rates applicable in the scheme year ending on that date to continue to apply for the scheme years to 31st March 2023. Since this involves a change to a protected element of the scheme constituted by the 2015 Regulations, the Secretary of State has consulted representatives of those likely to be affected by the change with a view to reaching agreement and has laid a report before Parliament.

No impact assessment has been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.

(1)

1976 c. 35; relevant amendments were made to section 1 by section 1(1) of the Police and Firemen’s Pensions Act 1997 (c. 52), section 99 of, and paragraphs 128 and 129 of Part 3 of Schedule 16 to, the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), section 27 of, and paragraph 12 of Schedule 8 to, the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 (c. 25) and section 133(3) of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (c. 12); there were other amendments which are not relevant.

(2)

2013 c. 25.

(3)

S.I. 1981/1670 transferred the function of giving consent to regulations made under section 1 of the Police Pensions Act 1976 from the Minister for the Civil Service to the Treasury.

(4)

S.I. 1991/1304.

(5)

The definition was inserted by regulation 3 of, and paragraph 1(a) of Schedule 2 to, S.I. 2003/27.

(6)

The company is registered at Companies House under company number 10559664.

(7)

S.I. 2015/445.

(8)

The heading to the table was amended by regulation 10(2) of S.I. 2019/378.