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Part XIIN.I. Supplementary Provisions

InterpretationN.I.

173 Managers of schemes.N.I.

The Department may by regulations [F1provide—

(a)who is to be treated as a manager of an occupational pension scheme for any o f the purposes of the provisions of this Act (except Chapter II of Part VII or section 153), the Social Security Acts (Northern Ireland) 1975 to 1991, F2. . . Part VI of the M1Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 F3[F4. . .F5. . . [F6, Article 27D of the Matrimonial Causes (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 [F7Part IV or V of the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 or Part II of Schedule 5 to the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000]]]

[F8or

(b)who is be treated as a trustee of a scheme for the purposes of Chapter I of Part IV, Chapter I of Part IVA, Part VIII so far as it applies for the purposes of Chapter I of Part IV, sections 149(2), 154(1) to (5), 158, 159 and 171 [F9or articles 22 [F10to 26] of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.]]]

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 173 substituted (22.11.2000) for words and s. 173(a) by 2000 c. 4 (N.I.), s. 52, Sch. 5 Pt. I para. 7(a) (with s. 66(6)); S.R. 2000/374, art. 2(a), Sch. Pt. I

F7Words in s. 173(a) substituted (12.2.2001 for specified purposes, otherwiseprosp.) by 2000 c. 4 (N.I.), s. 52, Sch. 5 Pt. I para. 15 (with s. 66(6)); S.R. 2000/374, art. 2(e) (art. 2(e)(ii) was omitted by virtue of S.R. 2001/141, art. 3)

F8S. 173(b) and word immediately preceding it inserted (22.11.2000) by 2000 c. 4 (N.I.), s. 52, Sch. 5 Pt. I para. 7(b) (with s. 66(6)); S.R. 2000/374, art. 2(a), Sch. Pt. I

Marginal Citations

174 Linked qualifying service.N.I.

(1)Subject to subsections (2) to (4), for the purposes of this Act any period of an earner’s service in an employment is linked qualifying service in relation to a later period of service (whether in the same or another employment) if—

(a)under [F11[F12Chapter 1 or 2 of Part 4ZA] or under the rules of a scheme] applying to him in the earlier period of service—

[F13(i)there was made a transfer of his rights (including any transfer credits allowed) under that scheme, or a transfer payment in respect of those rights, to, or to the trustees or managers of, another scheme applying to him in the later period of service;]

(ii)those rights were secured by a policy of insurance or an annuity contract and were subsequently transferred to another scheme applying to him in the later period of service; [F14or]

[F15(iii)a cash equivalent (within the meaning of [F16Chapter 1 of Part 4ZA]) or cash transfer sum (within the meaning of [F17Chapter 2] of that Part) was paid in respect of him to the trustees or managers of another scheme applying to him in the later period of service; and]

(b)in consequence of the transfer of his accrued rights to the second scheme, [F18or the payment to the trustees or managers of that scheme,] there are (or were) allowed to him transfer credits under the rules of that other scheme.

(2)For any service to be taken into account as linked qualifying service, it must be actual service and no regard shall be had to any scheme rule which provides for service to be treated for any purposes of benefit or otherwise as longer or shorter than it actually was.

(3)Only so much of the earlier period as is a period of service in respect of which there accrued under the first scheme any of the rights transferred to the second scheme shall be linked qualifying service in relation to the later period of service.

(4)For the purposes of Chapter I of Part IV, as respects any case where the rules of the scheme provide—

(a)that an earner is not entitled to become a member unless he satisfies specified conditions, but

(b)that, if he becomes a member, rights are to accrue to him in respect of periods of service before he satisfied any such conditions,

regulations may provide for any such periods to be treated, in such cases and to such extent as may be prescribed, as linked qualifying service with later periods of service.

Textual Amendments

F12Words in s. 174(1)(a) substituted (6.4.2015) by Pension Schemes Act 2015 (c. 8), s. 89(3)(b), Sch. 4 para. 72(a) (with s. 87)

F16Words in s. 174(1)(a)(iii) substituted (6.4.2015) by Pension Schemes Act 2015 (c. 8), s. 89(3)(b), Sch. 4 para. 72(b)(i) (with s. 87)

F17Words in s. 174(1)(a)(iii) substituted (6.4.2015) by Pension Schemes Act 2015 (c. 8), s. 89(3)(b), Sch. 4 para. 72(b)(ii) (with s. 87)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

175 Normal pension age.N.I.

(1)In this Act “normal pension age”, in relation to a scheme and a member’s pensionable service under it, means—

(a)in a case where the scheme provides for the member only a guaranteed minimum pension, the earliest age at which the member is entitled to receive the guaranteed minimum pension on retirement from any employment to which the scheme applies; and

(b)in any other case, the earliest age at which the member is entitled to receive benefits (other than a guaranteed minimum pension) on his retirement from such employment.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1) any scheme rule making special provision as to early retirement on grounds of ill-health or otherwise is to be disregarded.

[F19175A Insurer and long-term insurance businessN.I.

(1)In this Act “insurer” means—

(a)a person who has permission under Part 4 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to effect or carry out contracts of insurance, or

(b)an EEA firm of the kind mentioned in paragraph 5(d) of Schedule 3 to that Act, which has permission under paragraph 15 of that Schedule (as a result of qualifying for authorisation under paragraph 12 of that Schedule) to effect or carry out contracts of insurance.

(2)In this Act “long term insurance business” means business which consists of the effecting or carrying out of contracts of long-term insurance.

(3)This section must be read with—

(a)section 22 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

(b)any relevant order under that section; and

(c)Schedule 2 to that Act.]

Textual Amendments

F19S. 175A inserted (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3649, arts. 1, 137(1)

176 General interpretation.N.I.

(1)In this Act—

(2)References to employers in the provisions of this Act (other than sections 119 to 123, 153 [F60and 156] (“the excluded provisions”)) are to be treated, in relation to persons within the application of an occupational pension scheme and qualifying or prospectively qualifying for its benefits, as including references to persons who in relation to them and their employment are treated by regulations as being employers for the purposes of those provisions.

(3)Subject to any such regulations, references to an employer in any of the provisions of this Act (other than the excluded provisions or F61... Chapter I of Part IV, Part VIII so far as it applies for the purposes of Chapter I of Part IV, sections F62... 149(2), 154(1) to (5), 158, 159 F63... and 171) shall, in relation to an earner employed in an office with emoluments, be construed as references to—

(a)such person as may be prescribed in relation to that office; or

(b)if no person is prescribed, the government department, public authority or body of persons responsible for paying the emoluments of that office.

(4)Regulations may for any purpose of any provision of this Act (other than the excluded provisions or section F64... F65... F66... F67... 39, F68... 107, 156, 160 or 161) prescribe the persons who are to be regarded as members or prospective members of an occupational pension scheme and as to the times at which and the circumstances in which a person is to be treated as becoming, or as ceasing to be, a member or prospective member.

(5)In sections 161 and 162—

(a)references to the United Kingdom include references to the territorial waters of the United Kingdom; and

(b)references to Northern Ireland include references to the territorial waters of the United Kingdom adjacent to Northern Ireland.

(6)Any reference in section 180 or 181 to an order or regulations under this Act includes a reference to an order or regulations made under any provision of an enactment passed after this Act and directed to be construed as one with it; but this subsection applies only so far as a contrary intention is not expressed in the enactment so passed, and shall be without prejudice to the generality of any such direction.

(7)The M6Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to this Act—

(a)as it applies to a Measure of the Assembly;

(b)as if any reference in that Act to an enactment or an Act included a reference to this Act.

(8)For the purposes of Part III of the M7Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (validity of Measures of the Assembly, including Orders in Council under the M8Northern Ireland Act 1974), provisions of this Act which re-enact provisions of such an Order are to be treated as provisions of such an Order.]

Textual Amendments

F20Definition of “accrued rights premium” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F23Definition of “the Board” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F24Words in s. 176(1) inserted (24.2.2003) by Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29), s. 458(1), Sch. 11 para. 23(6); S.I. 2003/120, art. 2, Sch. (with arts. 3 4) (as amended (20.2.2003) by S.I. 2003/333, art. 14)

F25Definition of “contracted-out protected rights premium” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F27Words in the definition of “contributions equivalent premium” in s. 176(1) substituted (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 147, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(ii); S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F29S. 176(1): Definition of “employed earner” substituted (1.12.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 25.4.2000) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), arts. 1(5)(a), 17, Sch. 2 para. 2(b) (with transitional provisions in art. 75(1)); S.R. 2000/133, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. II

F31S. 176(1): Definition of "Financial Services Compensation Scheme" inserted (3.7.2002) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/1555) {art. 22}

F32Words in s. 176(1) repealed (with effect in accordance with Sch. 10 Pt. 6 Note 1(b) of the amending Act) by Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 13), s. 118(2), Sch. 10 Pt. 6 (with s. 73)

F33Definition of “equal access requirements” in s. 176(1) repealed (1.1.1996) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 119, 168, Sch. 1 para. 36(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. I (with art. 118(5)(6)); S.R. 1995/477, art. 2(b), Sch. Pt. II

F34Words in the definition of “industrial tribunal” in s. 176(1) substituted (24.9.1996) by S.I. 1996/1921 (N.I. 18), arts. 1(2), 26, Sch. 1 para. 10

F35S. 176(1): definition of “insurance company” repealed (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3649, arts. 1, 137(2)

F36Definition of “limited revaluation premium” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F38Words in s. 176(1) substituted (retrospective to 1.1.1997) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2012 (c. 3 (N.I.)), ss. 27(1)(5), 34(3); S.R. 2014/203, art. 2

F40Definition of “money purchase scheme” in s. 176(1) substituted (19.12.1995) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 165, Sch. 4 para. 13(a); S.R. 1995/477, art. 2(a), Sch. Pt. I

F41S. 176(1): Definition of “overseas arrangement” inserted (1.1.2001) by 2000 c. 4 (N.I.), s. 52, Sch. 5 Pt. I para. 2(3) (with s. 66(6)); S.R. 2000/374, art. 2(c), Sch. Pt. II

F42S. 176(1): Definition of “pension credit” inserted (1.12.2000) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), art. 74, Sch. 9 para. 30(a); S.R. 2000/133, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. IV

F43Definition of “pensionable age” in s. 176(1) substituted (16.12.1995) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 1(3)(a), 123, Sch. 2 Pt. III para. 13

F44S. 176(1): Definition of “pension debit” inserted (1.12.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.12.2000) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), arts. 1(5)(a), 29(5); S.R. 2000/133, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. IV

F45Definition of “personal pension protected rights premium” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F46S. 176(1): Definition of “the prescribed equivalent” repealed (6.4.2000) by 1999 c. 30, s. 88, Sch.13 Pt. VII; S.I. 1999/3420, art. 4(c)(e)

F47Definition of “the principal appointed day” in s. 176(1) inserted (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 147, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(iii); S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F49Words in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.2005 except for the definition of "voluntary contributions requirements", 6.4.2006 in so far as not already in force) by The Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/255 (N.I. 1)), art. 1(2), Sch. 11; S.R. 2005/166, art. 2(6), Sch. 1; S.R. 2006/95, art. 2(c), Sch. Pt. 3

F51Word in the definition of “rights” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 168, Sch. 5 Pt. IV; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F53Definition of “state scheme premium” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F56Words in s. 176(1) substituted (6.4.2015) by Pension Schemes Act 2015 (c. 8), s. 89(3)(b), Sch. 4 para. 73 (with s. 87)

F57Words in s. 176(1) inserted (11.2.2008) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), Sch. 1 para. 35

F58Definition of “transfer premium” in s. 176(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 66(a)(i), Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F60Words in s. 176(2) substituted (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 119, Sch. 1 para. 36(b) (with art. 118(5)(6)); S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2S. 176(1) modified by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 67A(3) (as substituted (1.11.2005 for specified purposes, 6.4.2006 in so far as not already in force) by The Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/255 (N.I. 1), arts. 1(2), 239 (with art. 285(5)); S.R. 2005/411, art. 2(5), Sch. Pt. 2)

Marginal Citations

[F69176AInterpretation of references to money purchase contracted-out schemes or appropriate schemes after abolition dateN.I.

(1)This section applies for the interpretation of this Act on and after the abolition date.

(2)An occupational pension scheme was a money purchase contracted-out scheme at a time before the abolition date if, at that time, the scheme was contracted-out by virtue of satisfying section 5(3) (as it then had effect).

(3)A money purchase contracted-out scheme was, at a time before the abolition date, a contracted-out scheme in relation to an earner's employment if it was, at that time, specified in a contracting-out certificate in relation to that employment; and references to the contracting-out of a scheme are, in relation to a money purchase contracted-out scheme, references to its inclusion in such a certificate.

(4)Any reference to a contracting-out certificate is, in relation to a money purchase contracted-out scheme, a reference to a certificate issued by virtue of section 3, as it had effect before the abolition date, in relation to the employment of an earner in employed earner's employment which was contracted-out by reference to that scheme.

(5)Any certificate so issued that was, at a time before the abolition date, in force in respect of an employed earner's employment is to be taken as conclusive that the employment was, at that time, contracted-out employment.

(6)A personal pension scheme was an appropriate scheme at a time before the abolition date if, at that time, there was in force a certificate issued under section 3(1)(b) (as it then had effect) stating that the scheme was an appropriate scheme; and “appropriate scheme certificate” means such a certificate.

(7)Any appropriate scheme certificate in force in relation to a scheme at any time before the abolition date is to be taken as conclusive that the scheme was, at that time, an appropriate scheme.]

[F70176BMoney purchase benefits: supplementaryN.I.

(1)This section applies for the purposes of the definition of “money purchase benefits” in section 176(1).

(2)A benefit other than a pension in payment falls within this section if its rate or amount is calculated solely by reference to assets which (because of the nature of the calculation) must necessarily suffice for the purpose of its provision to or in respect of the member.

(3)A benefit which is a pension in payment falls within this section if—

(a)its provision to or in respect of the member is secured by an annuity contract or insurance policy made or taken out with an insurer, and

(b)at all times before coming into payment the pension was a benefit falling within this section by virtue of subsection (2).

(4)For the purposes of subsection (2) it is immaterial if the calculation of the rate or amount of the benefit includes deductions for administrative expenses or commission.

(5)In this section references to a pension do not include income withdrawal or dependants’ income withdrawal (within the meaning of paragraphs 7 and 21 of Schedule 28 to the Finance Act 2004).]

Textual Amendments