Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993

114 Equal access requirements

(1) Subject to section 149(3), the equal access requirements in relation to an occupational pension scheme are that membership of the scheme is open to both men and women on terms which are the same as to age and length of service needed for becoming a member.

(2) A rule does not contravene the equal access requirements only because it confers on the scheme’s trustees or managers, or others, a discretion whose exercise may result in a person being more or less favourably treated than he otherwise would be, so long as it does not provide for the discretion to be exercised in any discriminatory manner as between men and women.

(3) The equal access requirements have effect in relation to any occupational pension scheme whose resources are derived in whole or in part from—

(a) payments made or to be made by one or more employers of earners to whom the scheme applies, being payments either—

(i) under an actual or contingent legal obligation; or

(ii) in the exercise of a power conferred, or the discharge of a duty imposed, on a Minister of the Crown, government department or any other person, being a power or duty which extends to the disbursement or allocation of public money; or

(b) such other payments by the earner or his employer, or both, as may be prescribed for different categories of scheme.

(4) Regulations may make provision—

(a) for the [1970 c. 32 (N.I.).] Equal Pay Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 to have effect, in relation to terms of employment relating to membership of an occupational pension scheme, with such modifications as may be prescribed;

(b) for imposing requirements on employers as to the payment of contributions and otherwise in case of their failing or having failed to comply with any such terms;

(c) for the consequential modification of a scheme’s rules where there has been an alteration under the Equal Pay Act [1970 c. 32 (N.I.).] (Northern Ireland) 1970 of any such terms.

(5) A reference in this section to terms of employment includes (where the context permits) a reference to—

(a) any collective agreement or pay structure;

(b) a wages regulation order within section 4 of the [1970 c. 32 (N.I.).] Equal Pay Act (Northern Ireland) 1970; and

(c) an agricultural wages order within section 5 of that Act.