29.—(1) In section 22 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 7) (in this Act referred to as the Contributions and Benefits Act) (earnings factors), after subsection (2) there shall be inserted—
“(2A) For the purpose specified in subsection (2)(b) above, in the case of the first appointed year or any subsequent tax year a person's earnings factor shall be treated as derived only from those of his earnings on which primary Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid.” .
(2) In section 44 of that Act (Category A retirement pension), in subsection (6)—
(a)before paragraph (a) there shall be inserted—
“(za)where the relevant year is the first appointed year or any subsequent year, to the aggregate of his earnings factors derived from those of his earnings upon which primary Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid in respect of that year;” ; and
(b)in paragraph (a), after subsequent tax year there shall be inserted “before the first appointed year”.
(3) After that section there shall be inserted—
44A.—(1) For the purposes of section 44(6)(za) above, if any of the conditions in subsection (2) below is satisfied for a relevant year, a pensioner is deemed to have an earnings factor for that year which—
(a)is derived from earnings on which primary Class 1 contributions were paid; and
(b)is equal to the amount which, when added to any other earnings factors taken into account under that provision, produces an aggregate of earnings factors equal to the low earnings threshold.
(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1) above are that—
(a)the pensioner would, apart from this section, have an earnings factor for the year—
(i)equal to or greater than the qualifying earnings factor for the year; but
(ii)less than the low earnings threshold for the year;
(b)invalid care allowance—
(i)was payable to the pensioner throughout the year; or
(ii)would have been so payable but for the fact that under regulations the amount payable to him was reduced to nil because of his receipt of other benefits;
(c)for the purposes of paragraph 5(7)(b) of Schedule 3, the pensioner is taken to be precluded from regular employment by responsibilities at home throughout the year by virtue of—
(i)the fact that child benefit was payable to him in respect of a child under the age of six; or
(ii)his satisfying such other condition as may be prescribed; or
(d)the pensioner is a person satisfying the requirement in subsection (3) below to whom long-term incapacity benefit was payable throughout the year, or would have been so payable but for the fact that—
(i)he did not satisfy the contribution conditions specified in paragraph 2 of Schedule 3; or
(ii)under regulations the amount payable to him was reduced to nil because of his receipt of other benefits or of payments from an occupational pension scheme or personal pension scheme.
(3) The requirement referred to in subsection (2)(d) above is that—
(a)for one or more relevant years the pensioner has paid, or (apart from this section) is treated as having paid, primary Class 1 contributions on earnings equal to or greater than the qualifying earnings factor; and
(b)the years for which he has such a factor constitute at least one tenth of his working life.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3)(b) above—
(a)a pensioner's working life shall not include—
(i)any tax year before 1978-79; or
(ii)any year in which he is deemed under subsection (1) above to have an earnings factor by virtue of fulfilling the condition in subsection (2)(b) or (c) above; and
(b)the figure calculated by dividing his working life by ten shall be rounded to the nearest whole year (and any half year shall be rounded down).
(5) The low earnings threshold for the first appointed year and subsequent tax years shall be £9,500 (but subject to section 130A of the Administration Act).
(6) In subsection (2)(d)(ii) above, occupational pension scheme and personal pension scheme have the same meanings as in subsection (6) of section 30DD above for the purposes of subsection (5) of that section.”.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (1) of section 44A of the Contributions and Benefits Act, a pensioner is deemed to have an earnings factor in relation to any relevant year as specified in that subsection if—
(a)severe disablement allowance was payable to him throughout the year; and
(b)he satisfies the requirement in subsection (3) of that section.
30.—(1) In section 45 of the Contributions and Benefits Act (the additional pension in a Category A retirement pension), in subsection (2)—
(a)after shall be there shall be inserted “the sum of the following”;
(b)in paragraph (b), after after 1987-88 there shall be inserted “but before the first appointed year”; and
(c)after that paragraph there shall be added “; and
“; and
(c)in relation to any tax years falling within subsection (3A) below, the weekly equivalent of the amount calculated in accordance with Schedule 4A to this Act.” .
(2) In that section after subsection (3) there shall be inserted—
“(3A) The following tax years fall within this subsection—
(a)the first appointed year;
(b)subsequent tax years.” .
Subs. (3)—Amendments
31.—(1) In section 46 of the Contributions and Benefits Act (modifications of section 45 for calculating the additional pension in certain benefits), after subsection (2) there shall be added—
“(3) For the purpose of determining the additional pension falling to be calculated under section 45 above by virtue of section 48BB below in a case where the deceased spouse died under pensionable age, the following definition shall be substituted for the definition of N in section 45(4)(b) above— “
N =
(a)the number of tax years which begin after 5th April 1978 and end before the date when the deceased spouse dies, or
(b)the number of tax years in the period—
(i)beginning with the tax year in which the deceased spouse ( S) attained the age of 16 or, if later, 1978-79, and
(ii)ending immediately before the tax year in which S would have attained pensionable age if S had not died earlier,
whichever is the smaller number. ”” .
(2) In section 48BB of that Act (Category B retirement pension: entitlement by reference to benefits under section 39A or 39B), in subsection (5) for section 46(2) there shall be substituted “section 46(3)”.
(3) In paragraph 4 of Schedule 8 to the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (NI 11) (in this Act referred to as the 1999 Order) (welfare benefits: minor and consequential amendments), sub-paragraph (b), and the word and immediately preceding it, shall cease to have effect.
32. After section 130 of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8) (in this Act referred to as the Administration Act) there shall be inserted—
130A. Whenever the Secretary of State makes an order under section 148A of the Great Britain Administration Act (revaluation of low earnings threshold), the Department may make a corresponding order for Northern Ireland.”.
33.—(1) The Contributions and Benefits Act shall be amended as follows.
(2) In section 21(5A)(b) (contribution conditions)—
(a)after 22(1)(a) there shall be inserted “, (2A)”; and
(b)for 44(6)(a) there shall be substituted “44(6)(za) and (a)”.
(3) In section 39 (rate of widowed mother's allowance and widow's pension), in subsections (1), (2) and (3), after sections 44 to 45B below there shall be inserted “and Schedule 4A to this Act”.
(4) In section 39C (rate of widowed parent's allowance and bereavement allowance)—
(a)in subsections (1) and (4), after sections 44 to 45A below there shall be inserted “and Schedule 4A to this Act”; and
(b)in subsection (3), after 45A there shall be inserted “below and Schedule 4A to this Act”.
(5) In section 44 (Category A retirement pension), in subsection (5A), after section 45 below there shall be inserted “and Schedule 4A to this Act”.
(6) In that subsection, for the words from that year, to surplus there shall be substituted “that year,
“that year,
(b)the amount of the surplus is the amount of that excess, and
(c)for the purposes of section 45(1) and (2)(a) and (b) below, the adjusted amount of the surplus” .
(7) In subsection (6) of that section, after section 45 below there shall be inserted “or Schedule 4A to this Act”.
(8) In section 45 (the additional pension in a Category A retirement pension)—
(a)in subsections (1) and (2)(a) and (b), before amount there shall be inserted “adjusted”; and
(b)in subsection (6), for the amount of any surpluses there shall be substituted “any amount”.
(9) In section 48A(4) (Category B retirement pension for married person), after sections 44 to 45B above there shall be inserted “and Schedule 4A to this Act”.
(10) In section 48B (Category B retirement pension for widows and widowers), in subsections (2) and (3), after sections 44 to 45B above there shall be inserted “and Schedule 4A to this Act”.
(11) In section 48BB (Category B retirement pension: entitlement by reference to benefits under section 39A or 39B), in subsections (5) and (6), after sections 44 to 45A above there shall be inserted “and Schedule 4A to this Act”.
(12) In section 48C(4) (Category B retirement pension: general), after sections 44 to 45B above there shall be inserted “and Schedule 4A to this Act”.
(13) In section 51 (Category B retirement pension for widowers), in subsections (2) and (3), after sections 44 to 45A above there shall be inserted “and Schedule 4A to this Act”.
(14) In section 121(1) (interpretation of Parts I to VI and supplementary provisions), after the definition of entitled there shall be inserted—
“first appointed year means such tax year, no earlier than 2002-03, as may be appointed by order, and second appointed year means such subsequent tax year as may be so appointed;” .
(15) In section 172 (Assembly, etc. control of regulations and orders)—
(a)in subsection (4), for subsection (7) there shall be substituted “subsections (4A) and (7)”; and
(b)after subsection (4) there shall be inserted—
“(4A) Subsection (4) above does not apply to a statutory rule which contains an order appointing the first or second appointed year (within the meaning of section 121(1) above).” .
34.—(1) In section 44A(5) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (c. 49) (in this Act referred to as the Pension Schemes Act) (additional pension and other benefits), after 44(5) there shall be inserted “or (5A)”.
(2) Subsection (1) shall have effect—
(a)in relation to the application of section 44(5A) of the Contributions and Benefits Act by virtue of sections 39C(1) and 48BB(5) of that Act;
(b)in relation to the application of section 44(5A) of the Contributions and Benefits Act in the circumstances described in Article 125(4) to (6) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (NI 22) (in this Act referred to as the Pensions Order).
(3) In relation to the period—
(a)beginning with and including 6th April 2000; and
(b)ending with the day before the first regulations under section 44A(5) of the Pension Schemes Act (as amended by subsection (1)) come into operation,
the Department shall be taken to have, and to have had, power to calculate and pay relevant pensions by reference to section 44(5) of the Contributions and Benefits Act as modified by regulations under section 44A(5) of the Pension Schemes Act.
(4) For the purposes of applying subsection (3)—
(a)the substitution made by Article 125(1) of the Pensions Order shall be ignored; and
(b)references in statutory provisions to section 44(5A) of the Contributions and Benefits Act shall (so far as necessary) be treated as references to section 44(5) of that Act.
(5) The first regulations under section 44A(5) of the Pension Schemes Act (as amended by subsection (1)) may include provision in relation to—
(a)revising the calculation of a relevant pension;
(b)paying a relevant pension in accordance with a revised calculation.
(6) For the purposes of this section, relevant pensions are pensions which fall to be calculated—
(a)in the circumstances described in Article 125(4) to (6) of the Pensions Order; and
(b)in relation to persons where, by virtue of section 44A(1) of the Pension Schemes Act, section 44(6) of the Contributions and Benefits Act has effect in any tax year as mentioned in section 44A(1) of the Pension Schemes Act in relation to some but not all of a person's earnings.
35.—(1) In the provisions of the Contributions and Benefits Act set out in subsection (2) (provisions relating to additional pensions for surviving spouses)—
(a)references to 5th April 2000 (wherever occurring) shall have effect, and be deemed always to have had effect, as references to 5th October 2002; and
(b)references to 6th April 2000 (wherever occurring) shall have effect, and be deemed always to have had effect, as references to 6th October 2002.
(2) Those provisions are—
(a)sections 39(3) and 39C(4) (widowed mother's allowance and widowed parent's allowance);
(b)sections 48BB(7), 48C(3) and 51(3) (Category B retirement pensions); and
(c)paragraphs 4(3), 5A(2) and (3) and 6(3) and (4) of Schedule 5 (deferred pensions).
(3) For Article 49(3) of the 1999 Order (power to substitute a later year for references to year 2000 in prescribed provisions ofthe Contributions and Benefits Act) there shall be substituted—
“(3) The regulations may amend (or further amend) any prescribed provision set out in section 35(2) of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000 (which sets out provisions falling within paragraph (2)) so as to substitute a reference to a later date for—
(a)any reference in that provision to 5th October 2002 or 6th October 2002; or
(b)any reference to a date inserted in that provision by a substitution made by virtue of this paragraph.” .
(4) In Article 49 of the 1999 Order —
(a)in paragraph (1), for (4) there shall be substituted “(4A)”; and
(b)after paragraph (4) there shall be inserted—
“(4A) The regulations may provide, for the purposes of any provision made by virtue of paragraph (4), for a case in which a person who, as a consequence of receiving incorrect or incomplete information, did not give any consideration to—
(a)the taking of a step which is a step he might have taken had he considered the matter on the basis of correct and complete information, or
(b)refraining from taking a step which is a step he did take but might have refrained from taking had he considered the matter on that basis,
to be treated as a case in which his failure to take the step, or his taking of the step he did take, was in reliance on the incorrect or incomplete information and as a case in which that step is one which he would have taken, or (as the case may be) would not have taken, had the information been correct and complete.” .
(5) In Article 49(6) of the 1999 Order (supplemental provisions of regulations relating to the scheme), after sub-paragraph (e) there shall be inserted—
“(ea)prescribing the matters that may be relied on, and the presumptions that may be made, in the determination of whether or not the prescribed conditions have been satisfied;” .
36. In paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Contributions and Benefits Act (widowed mother's allowance and widow's pension; retirement pensions (Categories A and B)), after sub-paragraph (7) there shall be inserted—
“(7A) Regulations may provide that a person is not to be taken for the purposes of sub-paragraph (7)(b) above as precluded from regular employment by responsibilities at home unless he meets the prescribed requirements as to the provision of information to the Department.”.
37.—(1) In Article 46 of the 1999 Order (creation of state scheme pension debits and credits), for paragraph (4) there shall be substituted—
“(4) The Department may by regulations make provision for the calculation and verification of cash equivalents for the purposes of this Article.
(4A) The power conferred by paragraph (4) includes power to provide—
(a)for calculation or verification in such manner as may be approved by or on behalf of the Government Actuary, and
(b)for things done under the regulations to be required to be done in accordance with guidance from time to time prepared by a person prescribed by the regulations.” .
(2) In section 45B of the Contributions and Benefits Act (reduction of additional pension in Category A retirement pension: pension sharing), for subsection (7) there shall be substituted—
“(7) The Department may by regulations make provision for the calculation and verification of cash equivalents for the purposes of this section.
(7A) The power conferred by subsection (7) above includes power to provide—
(a)for calculation or verification in such manner as may be approved by or on behalf of the Government Actuary, and
(b)for things done under the regulations to be required to be done in accordance with guidance from time to time prepared by a person prescribed by the regulations.” .
(3) In section 55A of that Act (shared additional pension), for subsection (6) there shall be substituted—
“(6) The Department may by regulations make provision for the calculation and verification of cash equivalents for the purposes of this section.
(6A) The power conferred by subsection (6) above includes power to provide—
(a)for calculation or verification in such manner as may be approved by or on behalf of the Government Actuary, and
(b)for things done under the regulations to be required to be done in accordance with guidance from time to time prepared by a person prescribed by the regulations.” .
(4) In section 55B of that Act (reduction of shared additional pension: pension sharing), for subsection (7) there shall be substituted—
“(7) The Department may by regulations make provision for the calculation and verification of cash equivalents for the purposes of this section.
(7A) The power conferred by subsection (7) above includes power to provide—
(a)for calculation or verification in such manner as may be approved by or on behalf of the Government Actuary, and
(b)for things done under the regulations to be required to be done in accordance with guidance from time to time prepared by a person prescribed by the regulations.” .
38.—(1) This section applies to any state pension information which is held in relation to any individual—
(a)by the Department; or
(b)in connection with the provision of any services provided to the Department for purposes connected with its functions relating to social security, by the person providing those services.
(2) [F1The Department may, in the prescribed manner, disclose or authorise the disclosure of any information] to which this section applies in any case in which—
(a)the person to whom the disclosure is made is a person falling within subsection (3) who has, in the prescribed manner, applied to the Department for the disclosure of the information; and
(b)it appears to the Department that the prescribed conditions for the making of a disclosure of the information in question to that person have been satisfied.
(3) A person falls within this subsection if—
(a)he is the trustee or manager of an occupational pension scheme of which the individual to whom the information relates is a member;
(b)he is the trustee or manager of a personal pension scheme of which that individual is a member;
(c)he is the employer in relation to an occupational pension scheme of which that individual is a member;
(d)he is the employer in relation to any employed earner's employment of that individual which is not contracted-out employment; or
(e)he is proposing to provide services to that individual in circumstances in which the provision of the services, or the proposal to do so, may involve the giving of advice or forecasts to which the information to which this section applies may be relevant.
[F2(3A) For the purposes of this section and of any regulations made under it, anything done by or in relation to a person who—
(a)provides, or proposes to provide, relevant services to a person falling within subsection (3) (“the qualifying person”), and
(b)is authorised in writing by the qualifying person to act for the purposes of this section,
is treated as done by or in relation to the qualifying person.
In paragraph (a) “relevant services” means services that may involve the giving of advice or forecasts to which information to which this section applies may be relevant.]
(4) The Department shall secure that its powers under this section are exercised so that at least the following is prescribed for the purposes of subsection (2)(b), namely—
(a)in the case of an application for information made by a person falling within paragraph (e) of subsection (3), a condition that the individual to whom the information relates has consented to the making of the application and to the disclosure; and
(b)in any other case, either that condition or the alternative condition set out in subsection (5).
(5) The alternative condition is—
(a)that such steps as may be prescribed have been taken for the purpose of ascertaining whether the individual to whom the information relates objects to the making of the application for the disclosure of information relating to him; and
(b)that the prescribed time has elapsed without any objection by that individual.
(6) A person applying to the Department, in accordance with regulations under this section, for the disclosure of any information relating to an individual shall be entitled, for the purpose of making the application, to make such disclosures of information relating to that individual as may be authorised by the regulations.
(7) In this section the reference, in relation to an individual, to state pension information is a reference to the following information about that individual—
(a)his date of birth, and the age at which and date on which he attains pensionable age—
(i)for the purposes of the Pension Schemes Act, in relation to any guaranteed minimum pension to which he is entitled; and
(ii)in accordance with the rules in paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the Pensions Order;
(b)the amount of any basic retirement pension a present or future entitlement to which has already accrued to that individual, and the amount of any additional retirement pension such an entitlement to which has already accrued to that individual;
(c)a projection of the amount of the basic retirement pension to which that individual is likely to become entitled, or might become entitled in particular circumstances;F3. . .
(d)a projection of the amount of the additional retirement pension to which that individual is likely to become entitled, or might become entitled in particular circumstances.[F3 and]
[F3(e)a projection of the amount of any lump sum to which that individual is likely to become entitled, or might become entitled in particular circumstances.]
(8) Regulations under this section shall be subject to negative resolution.
(9) Article 74(3) to (6) of the 1998 Order (regulations and orders) shall apply to any power to make regulations under this section as it applies to the powers to make regulations under that Order.
(10) For the purposes of section 115D of the Administration Act (supply of contributions, etc. information held by Inland Revenue), the Department's functions relating to social security shall be taken to include any power conferred on it by regulations under this section.
(11) In this section—
[F4“additional retirement pension” means any additional pension or shared additional pension under the Contributions and Benefits Act, or any graduated retirement benefit under sections 35 and 36 of the National Insurance Act (Northern Ireland) 1966;
“basic retirement pension” means any basic pension under the Contributions and Benefits Act;]
contracted-out employment has the same meaning as in the Pension Schemes Act;
employed earner has the same meaning as in Parts I to V of the Contributions and Benefits Act (by virtue of section 2(1) of that Act);
employer
in relation to any occupational pension scheme, has the same meaning as in Part II of the Pensions Order; and
in relation to employed earner's employment, has the same meaning as in the Pension Schemes Act;
[F3lump sum means a lump sum under Schedule 5 or 5A to the Contributions and Benefits Act;]
member, in relation to an occupational pension scheme, has the same meaning as in Part II of the Pensions Order;
occupational pension scheme and personal pension scheme have the same meanings as in the Pension Schemes Act;
prescribed means prescribed by or determined in accordance with regulations;
regulations means regulations made by the Department;
[F5“trustee or manager”, in relation to an occupational or personal pension scheme, means—
in the case of a scheme established under a trust, the trustee or trustees of the scheme, and
in any other case, the person or persons responsible for the management of the scheme.]
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Pt. II Ch. II (ss. 39-52) power to modify conferred (6.4.2006) by Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/255 (N.I. 1)), arts. 1(2), 294(e); S.R. 2006/95, art. 2(c), Sch. Pt. 3
C2Pt. II Ch. II (ss. 39-52) power to modify conferred (15.12.2008) by Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 13), ss. 115(2)(d), 118(2)(g)
39. F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F6Ss. 39-42 never in operation, repealed (6.4.2006) by Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/255 (N.I. 1)), arts. 1(2), 291, Sch. 11; S.R. 2005/543, art. 2(6), Sch. Pt. 6
40. F7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F7Ss. 39-42 never in operation, repealed (6.4.2006) by Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/255 (N.I. 1)), arts. 1(2), 291, Sch. 11; S.R. 2005/543, art. 2(6), Sch. Pt. 6
41. F8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F8Ss. 39-42 never in operation, repealed (6.4.2006) by Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/255 (N.I. 1)), arts. 1(2), 291, Sch. 11; S.R. 2005/543, art. 2(6), Sch. Pt. 6
42. F9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F9Ss. 39-42 never in operation, repealed (6.4.2006) by Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/255 (N.I. 1)), arts. 1(2), 291, Sch. 11; S.R. 2005/543, art. 2(6), Sch. Pt. 6
43. Subs. (1)(2) rep. by 2005 NI 1
(3) In paragraph (2) of Article 115 of that Order (powers to provide for Articles 22 to 26 not to apply in the case of certain schemes), for Articles 22 to 26 there shall be substituted “some or all of the provisions of Articles 22 to 26C”.
Subs. (4) rep. by 2005 NI 1
(5) In section 173(b) of the Pension Schemes Act (managers of schemes), at the end there shall be added “or Articles 22 to 26C of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995”.
44. After Article 71 of the Pensions Order there shall be inserted—
71A.—(1) The Authority may at any time while—
(a)an occupational pension scheme is being wound up, and
(b)the employer in relation to the scheme is subject to an insolvency procedure,
make an order modifying that scheme with a view to ensuring that it is properly wound up.
(2) The Authority shall not make such an order except on an application made to them, at a time such as is mentioned in paragraph (1), by the trustees or managers of the scheme.
(3) Except in so far as regulations otherwise provide, an application for the purposes of this Article must be made in writing.
(4) Regulations may make provision—
(a)for the form and manner in which an application for the purposes of this Article is to be made to the Authority,
(b)for the matters which are to be contained in such an application,
(c)for the documents which must be attached to an application for the purposes of this Article or which must otherwise be delivered to the Authority with or in connection with any such application,
(d)for persons to be required, before such time as may be prescribed, to give such notifications of the making of an application for the purposes of this Article as may be prescribed,
(e)for the matters which are to be contained in a notification of such an application,
(f)for persons to have the opportunity, for a prescribed period, to make representations to the Authority about the matters to which such an application relates,
(g)for the manner in which the Authority are to deal with any such application.
(5) The power of the Authority to make an order under this Article—
(a)shall be limited to what they consider to be the minimum modification necessary to enable the scheme to be properly wound up, and
(b)shall not include power to make any modification that would have a significant adverse effect on—
(i)the accrued rights of any member of the scheme, or
(ii)any person's entitlement under the scheme to receive any benefit.
(6) A modification of an occupational pension scheme by an order of the Authority under this Article shall be as effective in law as if—
(a)it had been made under powers conferred by or under the scheme,
(b)the modification made by the order were capable of being made in exercise of such powers notwithstanding any enactment, rule of law or rule of the scheme that would have prevented their exercise for the making of that modification, and
(c)the exercise of such powers for the making of that modification would not have been subject to any enactment, rule of law or rule of the scheme requiring the implementation of any procedure or the obtaining of any consent in connection with the making of a modification.
(7) Regulations may provide that, in prescribed circumstances, this Article—
(a)does not apply in the case of occupational pension schemes of a prescribed class or description, or
(b)in the case of occupational pension schemes of a prescribed class or description applies with prescribed modifications.
(8) The times when an employer in relation to an occupational pension scheme shall be taken for the purposes of this Article to be subject to an insolvency procedure are—
(a)in the case of a trust scheme, while Article 22 applies in relation to the scheme, and
(b)in the case of a scheme that is not a trust scheme, while Article 22 would apply in relation to the scheme if it were a trust scheme,
and for the purposes of this paragraph no account shall be taken of modifications or exclusions contained in any regulations under Article 115.
(9) The Authority shall not be entitled to make an order under this Article in relation to a public service pension scheme.”.
45.—(1) After Article 72 of the Pensions Order there shall be inserted—
72A.—(1) Where—
(a)an occupational pension scheme is being wound up, and
(b)the winding-up is one beginning at a time (whether before or after the making of this Order) by reference to which regulations provide that it is to be a winding-up to which this Article applies,
it shall be the duty of the trustees or managers, in accordance with this Article, to make periodic reports in writing to the Authority about the progress of the winding-up.
(2) In the case of each winding-up, the first report to be made under this Article shall be made—
(a)except in a case to which sub-paragraph (b) applies—
(i)after the end of the prescribed period beginning with the day on which the winding-up began, and
(ii)before the end of the prescribed period that begins with the end of the period that applies for the purposes of head (i), and
(b)in a case where the winding-up began before the coming into operation of the regulations which (for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)) prescribe the time by reference to which the winding-up is one to which this Article applies, before such date as may be prescribed by those regulations.
(3) Subject to paragraph (4), each subsequent report made under this Article in the case of a winding-up shall be made no more than twelve months after the date which (apart from any postponement under paragraph (4)) was the latest date for the making of the previous report required to be made in the case of that winding-up.
(4) If, in the case of any report required to be made under paragraph (3), the Authority consider (whether on an application made for the purpose or otherwise) that it would be appropriate to do so, they may, at any time before the latest time for the making of that report, postpone that latest time by such period as they think fit.
(5) The latest time for making a report shall not be postponed under paragraph (4) by more than twelve months.
(6) Subject to the application of the limit specified in paragraph (5) to the cumulative period of the postponements, more than one postponement may be made under paragraph (4) in the case of the same report.
(7) A report under this Article—
(a)shall contain such information and statements as may be prescribed, and
(b)shall be made in accordance with the prescribed requirements.
(8) Regulations may—
(a)provide that, in prescribed circumstances, there shall be no obligation to make a report that would otherwise fall to be made under this Article,
(b)make provision for the period within which, and the manner in which, applications may be made for a postponement under paragraph (4), and
(c)modify paragraphs (3) and (5) by substituting periods of different lengths for the periods for the time being specified in those paragraphs.
(9) If there is any failure by the trustees or managers of any scheme to comply with their duty to make a report in accordance with the requirements imposed by or under this Article—
(a)Article 3 applies, if the scheme is a trust scheme, to any trustee who has failed to take all such steps as are reasonable to secure compliance, and
(b)Article 10 applies (irrespective of the description of scheme involved) to any trustee or manager who has failed to take all such steps.”.
(2) In Article 121 of that Order (interpretation of Part II), after paragraph (3) there shall be added—
“(4) In a case of the winding-up of an occupational pension scheme in pursuance of an order of the Authority under Article 11 or of an order of a court, the winding-up shall (subject to paragraph (8)) be taken for the purposes of this Part to begin—
(a)if the order provides for a time to be the time when the winding-up begins, at that time, and
(b)in any other case, at the time when the order comes into force.
(5) In a case of the winding-up of an occupational pension scheme in accordance with a requirement or power contained in the rules of the scheme, the winding-up shall (subject to paragraphs (6) to (8)) be taken for the purposes of this Part to begin—
(a)at the time (if any) which under those rules is the time when the winding-up begins, and
(b)if sub-paragraph (a) does not apply, at the earliest time which is a time fixed by the trustees or managers as the time from which steps for the purposes of the winding-up are to be taken.
(6) Paragraph (5) shall not require a winding-up of a scheme to be treated as having begun at any time before the end of any period during which effect is being given—
(a)to a determination under Article 38 that the scheme is not for the time being to be wound up, or
(b)to a determination in accordance with the rules of the scheme to postpone the commencement of a winding-up.
(7) In paragraph (5)(b) the reference to the trustees or managers of the scheme shall have effect in relation to any scheme the rules of which provide for a determination that the scheme is to be wound up to be made by persons other than the trustees or managers as including a reference to those other persons.
(8) Paragraphs (4) to (7) do not apply for such purposes as may be prescribed.”.
(3) After Article 49 of that Order there shall be inserted—
49A.—(1) Except in so far as regulations otherwise provide, the trustees or managers of an occupational pension scheme shall keep written records of—
(a)any determination for the winding-up of the scheme in accordance with its rules,
(b)decisions as to the time from which steps for the purposes of the winding-up of the scheme are to be taken,
(c)determinations under Article 38,
(d)determinations in accordance with the rules of the scheme to postpone the commencement of a winding-up of the scheme.
(2) For the purpose of this Article—
(a)the determinations and decisions of which written records must be kept under this Article include determinations and decisions by persons who—
(i)are not trustees or managers of a scheme, but
(ii)are entitled, in accordance with the rules of a scheme, to make a determination for its winding-up, and
(b)regulations may, in relation to such determinations or decisions as are mentioned in sub-paragraph (a), impose obligations to keep written records on the persons making the determinations or decisions (as well as, or instead of, on the trustees or managers).
(3) Regulations may provide for the form and content of any records that are required to be kept under this Article.
(4) Article 3 applies to any trustee of a scheme who fails to take all such steps as are reasonable to secure compliance by the trustees of that scheme with the obligations imposed on them by this Article.
(5) Article 10 applies to any trustee or manager of a scheme who fails to take all such steps as are reasonable to secure compliance by the trustees or managers of that scheme with those obligations.”.
46. After the Article 72A inserted in the Pensions Order by section 45(1) there shall be inserted—
72B.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Article, the Authority shall have power, at any time after the winding-up of an occupational pension scheme has begun, to give directions under this Article if they consider that the giving of the direction is appropriate on any of the grounds set out in paragraph (2).
(2) Those grounds are—
(a)that the trustees or managers of the scheme are not taking all the steps in connection with the winding-up that the Authority consider would be being taken if the trustees or managers were acting reasonably,
(b)that steps being taken by the trustees or managers for the purposes of the winding-up involve things being done with what the Authority consider to be unreasonable delay,
(c)that the winding-up is being obstructed or unreasonably delayed by the failure of any person—
(i)to provide information to the trustees or managers,
(ii)to provide information to a person involved in the administration of the scheme,
(iii)to provide information to a person of a prescribed description, or
(iv)to take any step (other than the provision of information) that he has been asked to take by the trustees or managers,
(d)that the winding-up would be likely to be facilitated or accelerated by the taking by any person other than the trustees or managers of any other steps,
(e)that in any prescribed circumstances not falling within sub-paragraphs (a) to (d)—
(i)the provision by any person of any information to the trustees or managers or to any other person, or
(ii)the taking of any other step by any person,
would be likely to facilitate or accelerate the progress of the winding-up.
(3) Except in prescribed circumstances, the power of the Authority to give a direction under this Article in the case of a winding-up shall be exercisable only where—
(a)periodic reports about the progress of the winding-up are required to be made under Article 72A, and
(b)the first report that has to be made for the purposes of that Article in the case of that winding-up either has been made or should have been made.
(4) Regulations may provide that, in prescribed circumstances, the Authority shall not give a direction on the ground set out in paragraph (2)(e) except in response to an application made by the trustees or managers of the scheme for the giving of a direction on that ground.
(5) A direction under this Article is a direction in writing given to and imposing requirements on—
(a)any or all of the trustees or managers of the scheme,
(b)a person who is involved in its administration, or
(c)a person of a prescribed description.
(6) The requirements that may be imposed by a direction under this Article are any requirement for the person to whom it is given, within such period specified in the direction as the Authority may consider reasonable—
(a)to provide the trustees or managers with all such information as may be specified or described in the direction,
(b)to provide a person involved in the administration of the scheme with all such information as may be so specified or described,
(c)to provide a person who is of a prescribed description with all such information as may be so specified or described,
(d)to take such steps (other than the provision of information) as may be so specified or described.
(7) If, at any time before the end of a period within which any step is required by a direction under this Article to be taken by any person, the Authority consider (whether on an application made for the purpose or otherwise) that it would be appropriate to do so, they may extend (or further extend) that period until such time as they think fit.
(8) Regulations may—
(a)impose limitations on the steps that a person may be required to take by a direction under this Article,
(b)make provision for the period within which, and the manner in which, applications may be made for a period to be extended (or further extended) under paragraph (7).
(9) In this Article references, in relation to a scheme, to a person involved in the administration of the scheme are (subject to paragraph (10)) references to any person who is so involved otherwise than as—
(a)the employer in relation to that scheme,
(b)a trustee or manager of the scheme,
(c)the auditor of the scheme or its actuary,
(d)a legal adviser of the trustees or managers of the scheme,
(e)a fund manager for the scheme,
(f)a person acting on behalf of a person who is involved in the administration of the scheme,
(g)a person providing services to a person so involved,
(h)a person acting in his capacity as an employee of a person so involved,
(i)a person who would fall within any of sub-paragraphs (f) to (h) if persons acting in relation to the scheme in any capacity mentioned in the preceding sub-paragraphs were treated as involved in the administration of a scheme.
(10) In this Article references, in relation to a scheme, to a person involved in the administration of the scheme do not include references to persons of a particular description if regulations provide for persons of that description to be excluded from those references.
72C.—(1) It shall be the duty of any person to whom a direction is given under Article 72B to comply with it.
(2) Where a direction is given under Article 72B to the trustees of a trust scheme, Article 3 applies to any trustee who fails, without reasonable excuse, to take all such steps as are reasonable to secure compliance with it.
(3) Article 10 applies to any trustee or manager of a scheme who fails, without reasonable excuse, to take all such steps as are reasonable to secure compliance by the trustees or managers of that scheme with any direction given to them under Article 72B.
(4) Article 10 applies to any person who—
(a)is a person to whom a direction under Article 72B is given otherwise than in the capacity of a trustee or manager, and
(b)without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with that direction.
(5) For the purposes of this Article it shall not be a reasonable excuse in relation to any failure to provide information in pursuance of a direction under Article 72B that the provision of that information would (but for the duty imposed by paragraph (1) of this Article) involve a breach by any person of a duty owed to another not to disclose that information.”.
47.—(1) In Article 51(2) of the Pensions Order (annual increase in rate of pension), for Subject to Article 52 there shall be substituted “Subject to Articles 51A and 52”.
(2) After Article 51 of that Order there shall be inserted—
51A.—(1) No increase under Article 51 is required to be made, at any time on or after the relevant date, of so much of any pension under a money purchase scheme as—
(a)is payable by way of an annuity the amount of which for any year after the first year of payment is determined (whether under the terms of the scheme or under the terms of the annuity contract in pursuance of which it is payable) by reference to fluctuations in the value of, or the return from, particular investments,
(b)does not represent benefits payable in respect of the protected rights of any member of the scheme, and
(c)satisfies such other conditions (if any) as may be prescribed.
(2) For the purposes of this Article it shall be immaterial whether the annuity in question is payable out of the funds of the scheme in question or under an annuity contract entered into for the purposes of the scheme.
(3) In this Article the relevant date means the date appointed for the coming into operation of section 47 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000.”.
48.—(1) In section 109(1) of the Pension Schemes Act (disclosure of information about schemes to members, etc.), for and at the end of paragraph (c) there shall be substituted—
“(ca)of the pensions and other benefits an entitlement to which would be likely to accrue to the member, or be capable of being secured by him, in respect of the rights that may arise under it; and” .
(2) After subsection (3) of that section there shall be inserted—
“(3A) The regulations may provide for the information that must be given to be determined, in whole or part, by reference to guidance which—
(a)is prepared and from time to time revised by a prescribed body; and
(b)is for the time being approved by the Department.
(3B) The regulations may, in relation to cases where a scheme is being wound up, contain—
(a)provision conferring power on the Regulatory Authority, at times before the period expires, to extend any period specified in the regulations as the period within which a requirement imposed by the regulations must be complied with; and
(b)provision as to the contents of any application for the exercise of such a power and as to the form and manner in which, and the time within which, any such application must be made.” .
49.—(1) Section 142 of the Pension Schemes Act (functions of the Pensions Ombudsman) shall be amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), after paragraph (b) there shall be inserted—
“(ba)a complaint made to him by or on behalf of an independent trustee of a trust scheme who, in connection with any act or omission which is an act or omission either—
(i)of trustees of the scheme who are not independent trustees, or
(ii)of former trustees of the scheme who were not independent trustees,
alleges maladministration of the scheme,” .
(3) In that subsection, for the words after sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (d) there shall be substituted—
“and in a case falling within sub-paragraph (ii) references in this Part to the scheme to which the reference relates are references to each of the schemes,
(e)any dispute not falling within paragraph (f) between different trustees of the same occupational pension scheme,
(f)any dispute, in relation to a time while Article 22 of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (schemes subject to insolvency procedures) applies in relation to an occupational pension scheme, between an independent trustee of the scheme and either—
(i)trustees of the scheme who are not independent trustees, or
(ii)former trustees of the scheme who were not independent trustees, and
(g)any question relating, in the case of an occupational pension scheme with a sole trustee, to the carrying out of the functions of that trustee.” .
(4) After that subsection there shall be inserted—
“(1A) The Pensions Ombudsman shall not investigate or determine any dispute or question falling within subsection (1)(c) to (g) unless it is referred to him—
(a)in the case of a dispute falling within subsection (1)(c), by or on behalf of the actual or potential beneficiary who is a party to the dispute,
(b)in the case of a dispute falling within subsection (1)(d), by or on behalf of any of the parties to the dispute,
(c)in the case of a dispute falling within subsection (1)(e), by or on behalf of at least half the trustees of the scheme,
(d)in the case of a dispute falling within subsection (1)(f), by or on behalf of the independent trustee who is a party to the dispute,
(e)in the case of a question falling within subsection (1)(g), by or on behalf of the sole trustee.
(1B) For the purposes of this Part any reference to or determination by the Pensions Ombudsman of a question falling within subsection (1)(g) shall be taken to be the reference or determination of a dispute.” .
(5) In subsection (3), after occupational pension scheme there shall be inserted “or a personal pension scheme”.
(6) In subsection (6) for paragraph (a) there shall be substituted—
“(a)if, before the making of the complaint or the reference of the dispute—
(i)proceedings in respect of the matters which would be the subject of the investigation have been begun in any court or industrial tribunal, and
(ii)those proceedings are proceedings which have not been discontinued or which have been discontinued on the basis of a settlement or compromise binding all the persons by or on whose behalf the complaint or reference is made;” .
(7) In subsection (7)—
(a)after paragraph (b) there shall be inserted—
“(ba)a person who is entitled to a pension credit as against the trustees or managers of the scheme;” ; and
(b)in paragraph (c)(i), for paragraph (a) or (b) there shall be substituted “paragraph (a), (b) or (ba)”.
(8) In subsection (8) after the definition of employer there shall be inserted—
“independent trustee, in relation to a scheme, means—
(a)a trustee of the scheme appointed under Article 23(1)(b) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (appointment of independent trustee by insolvency practitioner or official receiver),
(b)a person appointed under Article 7(1) of that Order to replace a trustee falling within paragraph (a) or this paragraph;” .
(9) In subsection (1)—
(a)for complaints and disputes there shall be substituted “matters”;
(b)in paragraph (b), for the words from is to to the end of the paragraph there shall be substituted “are references to the other scheme referred to in that sub-paragraph”; and
(c)in paragraphs (c) and (d), the words which arises shall cease to have effect.
(10) Subsection (6) shall not have effect in relation to proceedings begun before the day appointed under section 68 for the coming into operation of this section.
S. 50 rep. by 2005 NI 1
51. After Article 66 of the Pensions Order there shall be inserted—
66A.—(1) This Article applies where an occupational pension scheme contains provisions contravening paragraph (2) or (3).
(2) Except so far as regulations otherwise provide, provisions of an occupational pension scheme contravene this paragraph to the extent that they would (apart from this Article) have an effect with respect to—
(a)the entitlement of any person to benefits under the scheme, or
(b)the payment to any person of benefits under the scheme,
which would be different according to whether or not a place outside the United Kingdom is specified by that person as the place to which he requires payments of benefits under the scheme to be made to him.
(3) Except so far as regulations otherwise provide, provisions of an occupational pension scheme contravene this paragraph to the extent that they would (apart from this Article) have an effect with respect to—
(a)the entitlement of any person to remain a member of the scheme,
(b)the eligibility of any person to remain a person by or in respect of whom contributions are made towards or under the scheme, or
(c)the making by or in respect of any person who is a member of the scheme of any contributions towards or under the scheme,
which would be different according to whether that person works wholly in the United Kingdom or wholly or partly outside the United Kingdom.
(4) Provisions contravening paragraph (2) shall have effect, in relation to all times after the coming into operation of section 51 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000, as if they made the same provision in relation to a person who requires payments of benefits to be made to a place outside the United Kingdom as they make in relation to a person in whose case all payments of benefits fall to be made to a place in the United Kingdom.
(5) Provisions contravening paragraph (3) shall have effect, in relation to all times after the coming into operation of section 51 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000, as if they made the same provision in relation to persons working wholly or partly outside the United Kingdom as they make in relation to persons working wholly in the United Kingdom.
(6) This Article—
(a)shall be without prejudice to any statutory provision under which any amount is to be or may be deducted, or treated as deducted, from amounts payable by way of benefits under the scheme or treated as so payable; and
(b)shall not apply in relation to so much of any provision of a scheme as is required for securing compliance with the conditions of any approval, exemption or relief given or available under the Tax Acts.”.
52. Schedule 5 (which contains miscellaneous amendments of the Pension Schemes Act and the Pensions Order and makes provision for an alternative to the anti-franking rules in Part III of that Act) shall have effect.