Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993

Part VIII N.I. Relationship Between Requirements and Scheme Rules

125 Overriding requirements. N.I.

(1) Subject to subsection (2), the provisions of Chapters II, III and IV of Part IV [F1 Chapters I and II of Part IVA,], F2 . . . section 106(1) F2 . . . and any regulations made F2 . . . under section 109 F2 . . . override any provision of a scheme to which they apply to the extent that it conflicts with them.

(2) Chapter II of Part IV (as it applies to occupational pension schemes), [F3 and Chapter III of that Part] do not override a protected provision of a scheme and Chapter IV of Part IV [F4 and Chapter II of Part IVA do] not override a provision falling within paragraph (b) of subsection (3).

(3) In subsection (2) “protected provision” means—

F5 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) any provision of a scheme to the extent that it deals with priorities on a winding up;

(c) any provision of a scheme which is included in it for the purpose of effecting a transfer of rights or liabilities authorised by regulations under section 16(1);

(d) any provision of a scheme to the extent that it deals with commutation, suspension or forfeiture of the whole or part of a pension; and

(e) any provision of a scheme whereby, as respects so much of a widow’s or widower’s pension as exceeds the guaranteed minimum pension—

(i) no pension or a pension at a reduced rate is payable if the earner and the widow or widower married not more than six months before the earner’s death;

(ii) the whole or any part of the pension is not paid to the widow or widower, but instead comparable benefits are provided for one or more dependants of the deceased earner; or

(iii) no pension, or a pension at a reduced rate, is payable to the widow or widower (or, where a provision such as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (ii) operates, to another dependant of the deceased earner) who was more than ten years younger than the deceased earner.

(4) For the purposes of the application of Chapter II of Part IV to schemes which are not contracted-out, subsection (3) shall have effect with the omission—

(a) from paragraph (c), of the words from “authorised” to the end; and

(b) from paragraph (e), of the words from “as respects” to “guaranteed minimum pension”.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 125(1) inserted (1.12.2000) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), art. 74, Sch. 9 para. 28(2); S.R. 2000/133, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. IV

F2 Words in s. 125(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 119, 168, Sch. 1 para. 23(a), Sch. 5 Pt. I (with art. 118(5)(6)); S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F3 Words in s. 125(2) substituted (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 119, Sch. 1 para. 23(b) (with art. 118(5)(6)); S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F4 Words in s. 125(1) inserted (1.12.2000) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), art. 74, Sch. 9 para. 28(3); S.R. 2000/133, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. IV

F5 Words in s. 125(3)(a) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 119, 168, Sch. 1 para. 23(c), Sch. 5 Pt. I (with art. 118(5)(6)); S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

126 Extra-statutory benefits. N.I.

It is hereby declared that—

(a) nothing in Part III precludes an occupational pension scheme from providing benefits that are more favourable than those required for contracting-out purposes and, in particular, nothing in section 12(3) is to be taken as preventing the scheme from providing increases above the alternative minima there mentioned; and

(b) nothing in the provisions of Chapter II or IV of Part IV precludes a scheme from being framed or managed more favourably to beneficiaries than is called for by those provisions.

127 Relationship of preservation requirements and scheme rules. N.I.

It is hereby declared that nothing in Chapter I of Part IV—

(a) applies with direct effect to any scheme, or to the rights or liabilities of any person in, under or by virtue of a scheme; or

(b) precludes a scheme from being so framed as to provide benefits on any ampler scale, or (subject to any express provision made in that Chapter) payable at any earlier time or otherwise more favourable to beneficiaries, than is called for by the preservation requirements.

128 Duty to bring schemes into conformity with indirectly-applying requirements. N.I.

Where the rules of an occupational pension scheme to which the preservation requirements, F6 . . . or the voluntary contributions requirements apply or the rules of a personal pension scheme to which the voluntary contributions requirements apply do not comply with those requirements it shall be the responsibility of—

(a) the trustees and managers of the scheme; or

(b) in the case of a public service pension scheme, the Minister of the Crown, government department or other person or body concerned with its administration,

to take such steps as are open to them for bringing the rules of the scheme into conformity with those requirements.

Textual Amendments

F6 Words in s. 128 repealed (1.1.1996) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 119, 168, Sch. 1 para. 24, Sch. 5 Pt. I (with art. 118(5)(6)); S.R. 1995/477, art. 2(b), Sch. Pt. II

F7 129

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Textual Amendments

F7 Ss. 129-131 repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 54, Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F8 130

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Textual Amendments

F8 Ss. 129-131 repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 54, Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F9 131

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Textual Amendments

F9 Ss. 129-131 repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 54, Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)