Pensions Act 2008

9 E+W+S After section 39 (the sum specified in a section 38 contribution notice) insert—

“39A Section 38 contribution notice: transfer of members of the scheme

(1) This section applies where—

(a) the Regulator is of the opinion that in relation to a scheme (“the initial scheme”) in relation to which section 38 applies—

(i) an act or failure to act falling within subsection (5) of that section has occurred (or first occurred) at any time, and

(ii) the other conditions in that section for issuing a contribution notice are met in relation to the initial scheme (or, but for any transfer falling within paragraph (b), would be met), and

(b) the accrued rights of at least two persons who were members of the initial scheme are transferred at that or any subsequent time to one or more work-based pension schemes (whether by virtue of the act or otherwise).

(2) The Regulator may issue a contribution notice under section 38 in relation to any transferee scheme (and, accordingly, any reference in section 40 or 41 to the scheme is to the transferee scheme).

(3) In the case of any contribution notice issued by virtue of subsection (2) to any transferee scheme which is not within subsection (5)(a) or (b), section 39 has effect as if any reference in that section to the scheme were a reference to whichever of—

(a) the initial scheme, and

(b) the transferee scheme,

the Regulator determines to be more appropriate in the circumstances.

(4) In any case where section 39 has effect in relation to the transferee scheme by virtue of subsection (3), any reference in that section to a debt under section 75 of the 1995 Act is a reference to so much of that debt as, in the Regulator's opinion, is attributable to those members of the transferee scheme who were members of the initial scheme.

(5) In the case of any contribution notice issued by virtue of subsection (2) to any transferee scheme which is—

(a) a scheme to which section 75 of the 1995 Act does not apply, or

(b) a scheme to which that section does apply in a case where the liabilities of the scheme that would be taken into account for the purposes of that section do not relate to the members of the initial scheme,

the sum specified by the Regulator in the notice is determined in accordance with regulations (and not in accordance with section 39).

(6) The Regulator may also issue a direction to the trustees or managers of any transferee scheme requiring them to take specified steps to secure that the sum payable under the notice is applied for the benefit of the members of the transferee scheme who were members of the initial scheme.

(7) If the trustees or managers fail to comply with a direction issued to them under subsection (6), section 10 of the 1995 Act (civil penalties) applies to any trustee or manager who has failed to take all reasonable steps to secure compliance.

39B Section 39A: supplemental

(1) In section 39A a “transferee scheme”, in relation to any time, means any work-based pension scheme—

(a) to which the accrued rights of at least two persons who were members of the initial scheme have been transferred, and

(b) of which any of those persons are members at that time.

(2) For the purposes of section 39A(1) and subsection (1) above it does not matter whether any rights are transferred to a work-based pension scheme directly from the initial scheme or following one or more other transfers to other work-based pension schemes.

(3) For the purposes of section 39A and this section references to the transfer of accrued rights of members of a pension scheme to another pension scheme include references to the extinguishing of those accrued rights in consequence of the obligation to make a payment, or transfer an asset, to that other scheme.

(4) In section 39A and this section—

(a) “the 1995 Act” means the Pensions Act 1995;

(b) “work-based pension scheme” has the meaning given by section 5(3);

(c) any reference to rights which have accrued is to be read in accordance with section 67A(6) and (7) of the 1995 Act (reading any reference in those subsections to a subsisting right as a reference to a right which has accrued).

(5) Section 39A applies even if the initial scheme—

(a) is wound up as a result of any transfer falling within subsection (1)(b) of that section, or

(b) otherwise ceases to exist at the time of the transfer or at any subsequent time.

(6) Accordingly, in any such case, in subsection (1) of that section—

(a) the reference to a scheme to which section 38 applies is a reference to a scheme which was such a scheme before the transfer;

(b) the reference to any conditions in section 38 being met is a reference to any conditions in that section that, but for the transfer, would have been met in relation to the scheme.

(7) Nothing in section 39A or this section is to be read as preventing the Regulator from issuing a contribution notice in relation to the initial scheme.

(8) Regulations may make provision applying, with or without modifications, any provision made by or under section 39A or this section in relation to any scheme or other arrangement in any case where the accrued rights of persons who were members of the initial scheme are transferred or extinguished directly or indirectly in consequence of or otherwise in connection with—

(a) the making of any payment at any time to or for the benefit of the scheme or other arrangement,

(b) the transfer of any asset at any time to or for the benefit of the scheme or other arrangement,

(c) the discharge (wholly or partly) at any time of any liability incurred by or on behalf of the scheme or other arrangement, or

(d) the incurring at any time of any obligation to do any act falling within paragraph (a) to (c).

(9) Any reference in subsection (8)(a) to (d) to the doing of an act of any description at any time in relation to the scheme or other arrangement includes a reference to the doing of an act of that description at any previous time in relation to any other scheme or other arrangement.

(10) Regulations under subsection (8) may—

(a) make provision having effect in relation to any case where rights are transferred or extinguished on or after the date on which the Secretary of State publishes a statement of the intention to make the regulations; and

(b) without prejudice to section 315(5), make consequential provision applying with modifications any provision of this Act which relates to contribution notices under section 38.”