The Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005

Inspection of premises: supplementary

71.—(1) This Article applies for the purposes of Articles 68 to 70.

(2) Premises which are a private dwelling-house not used by, or by permission of, the occupier for the purposes of a trade or business are not liable to inspection.

(3) Any question whether—

(a) anything is being or has been done or omitted which might by virtue of any of the regulatory provisions give rise to a liability for a civil penalty under or by virtue of Article 10 of the 1995 Order or section 164(4) of the Pension Schemes Act (or under or by virtue of any provision in force in Great Britain corresponding to either of them), or

(b) an offence is being or has been committed under any of the regulatory provisions,

is to be treated as a question whether the regulatory provision is being, or has been, complied with.

(4) An inspector applying for admission to any premises for the purposes of Article 68 or 69 must, if so required, produce his certificate of appointment.

(5) When exercising a power under Article 68, 69 or 70 an inspector may be accompanied by such persons as he considers appropriate.

(6) Any document of which possession is taken under Article 70 may be retained—

(a) if the document is relevant to proceedings against any person for any offence which are commenced before the end of the retention period, until the conclusion of those proceedings, and

(b) otherwise, until the end of the retention period.

(7) In paragraph (6), “the retention period” means the period comprising—

(a) the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which possession was taken of the document, and

(b) any extension of that period under paragraph (8).

(8) The Regulator may, by a direction made before the end of the retention period (including any extension of it under this paragraph), extend it by such period not exceeding 12 months as the Regulator considers appropriate.

(9) “The regulatory provisions”, in relation to an inspection under paragraph (1), (3) or (4) of Article 68 or paragraph (1) or (4) of Article 69, means any provision referred to in that paragraph.