Government Annuities Act 1929

Part I U.K. Government Annuities

1—7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 1–7, 9(2), 12, 13(2), 14 repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

8 Security for and payment of annuities. U.K.

(1) All immediate life annuities . . . F2 , shall be charged on the [F3 National Loans Fund] and issued thereout . . . F4 at such times as the Treasury may direct.

(2) All deferred life annuities shall be charged on and paid out of the funds established under the M1 Government Annuities (Investments) Act 1864, and regulated by Part III of this Act, which fund is hereinafter in this Act referred to as the “Government Annuities Investment Fund.”

Textual Amendments

F2 Words repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

F3 Words substituted by National Loans Act 1968 (c. 13), s. 8(2)

F4 Words repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1963 (c. 30)

Marginal Citations

M1 1864 c. 46.

9 Times of payment. U.K.

(1) All annuities granted under this Part of this Act shall be payable quarterly, on the fifth day of January, the fifth day of April, the fifth day of July, and the fifth day of October, in each year.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F5

(3) On the expiry of a life annuity by reason of the death of a single nominee, or of the survivor of two joint nominees, or of either of two joint nominees, a sum equal to one-fourth part of the annuity, over and above all quarterly arrears thereof, shall, if claimed within two years after the death of that nominee, but not otherwise, be payable to the person entitled to the annuity, or to his executors, administrators or assigns, as the case may be, at any time after the expiration of thirty days after proof of the death:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F6

Textual Amendments

F5 Ss. 1–7, 9(2), 12, 13(2), 14 repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

F6 S. 9(3) proviso repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

10 Mode of payment of life annuities. U.K.

(1) The quarterly payments of life annuities shall be made by the Commissioners by warrants, addressed to the Bank of England, upon proof of the existence of the nominee, or, if the annuity depends on two joint lives and the life of the survivor, of either of the nominees, or, if the annuity depends on the joint continuance of two lives, of both the nominees, either—

(a) by the personal appearance of such nominee or nominees before an officer of the Commissioners on the quarterly day for payment or some day subsequent thereto; or

(b) by the production of such certificate and declaration as are in this section mentioned; or

(c) by other evidence to the satisfaction of the Commissioners.

(2) The certificate so required shall be a certificate by any person prescribed in that behalf by a warrant of the Treasury that the nominee was living on a day specified in the certificate, being the quarterly day for payment, or some day subsequent thereto.

(3) The declaration so required shall be a declaration by a person entitled to the life annuity, or some person on his behalf, stating that the person mentioned in the certificate is the nominee or one of the nominees on whose life the annuity depends, and where an annuity depends on the life of two nominees and the life of the survivor, the declaration, if referring to one only of the nominees, shall state whether the other of the two nominees is living or dead, and, if living, his usual place of residence, or that the person making the declaration is wholly ignorant whether such other nominee is living or dead, or of his place of residence, as the case may be.

(4) Where two or more annuities have been granted upon the life of the same nominee, then—

(a) if the existence of the nominee has been proved by his personal appearance before an officer of the Commissioners for the purpose of one of those annuities, no further proof of his existence shall be required in respect of any other such annuity; and

(b) if a certificate of the existence of the nominee has been produced in accordance with the provisions of this section by a person entitled to one annuity, it shall not be necessary for a person entitled to another such annuity to produce a certificate, but a declaration by or on behalf of the person entitled to such other annuity as to the identity of the person to whom the certificate relates with the person on whose life his annuity depends shall be sufficient.

11 Mode of payment of one-fourth of life annuity on expiration of annuity. U.K.

(1) The sum equal to one-fourth of a life annuity payable under this Part of this Act on the expiration of the annuity, shall (with all quarterly arrears) be paid by the Commissioners by warrant addressed to the Bank of England, on production to the proper officer of the Commissioners of a certificate of the death or burial of the nominee on whose death the annuity expired, together with a declaration as to the identity of the person named in the certificate with that nominee, which declaration shall also state the date of his death:

Provided that, where it is proved to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that such certificate as aforesaid cannot be produced, the Commissioners may admit such other evidence of the death of the nominee as in each case may be considered sufficient.

(2) Certificates of death or burial for the purpose of this section shall specify the date of death or burial, and shall be given by such persons as are authorised by a warrant of the Treasury.

(3) Extracts or copies from the registers of the Society of Friends (commonly called Quakers) or from the register of any Nonconformist or Roman Catholic chapel or any non-parochial chapel, if certified by the registrar or other person keeping the register, shall be accepted as evidence of death or burial.

12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F7 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F7 Ss. 1–7, 9(2), 12, 13(2), 14 repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

13 Transfers of life annuities. U.K.

(1) Life annuities shall be transferable in the books of the Commissioners in such form and subject to such regulations as the Commissioners may approve:

Provided that every such annuity shall only be transferable entire and not in parts or shares.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F8

(3) On the transfer of an annuity the person to whom the transfer is made shall, if the Commissioners . . . F9 so require, sign his acceptance thereof himself or by his duly authorised agent.

Textual Amendments

F8 Ss. 1–7, 9(2), 12, 13(2), 14 repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

F9 Words repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F10 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F10 Ss. 1–7, 9(2), 12, 13(2), 14 repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

15 Unclaimed annuities. U.K.

(1) The Commissioners shall, on the fifth day of January in every year, make up an account of all life annuities which have remained unclaimed for the space of the last three years, and all annuities so remaining unclaimed, together with the unclaimed quarterly arrears thereof, and all life annuities which may have expired, and all quarterly arrears thereof, shall cease to be charged upon and shall not be issued out of the fund on which they are charged by this Part of this Act, as from the date from which they have remained so unclaimed or on which they have so expired:

Provided that nothing in this section shall prejudice the rights of any person entitled to any such unclaimed annuity to claim the quarterly arrears and future payments thereof, the claim being supported by such proof of the existence of the nominee as is required by section ten of this Act, and in every such case the Commissioners may reinstate the annuity so claimed and charge it and all arrears thereof on the same fund as previously.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F11

Textual Amendments

F11 S. 15(2) repealed by Miscellaneous Financial Provisions Act 1955 (4 & 5 Eliz. 2 c. 6) Sch. 2 Pt. III

16—18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F12 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F12 Ss. 16–18, 28 repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

19 Certification of amounts payable on the several quarter days. U.K.

The Comptroller-General, acting under the Commissioners, shall within fourteen days preceding the fifth day of January, the fifth day of April, the fifth day of July, and the fifth day of October, in each year, certify to the Treasury the amount on account of annuities which will become payable under this Part of this Act out of the [F13 National Loans Fund] on each of those dates respectively, and the Treasury shall thereupon by warrant direct the issue out of the [F13 National Loans Fund] to the account of the Commissioners of the sum specified in the certificate.

Textual Amendments

F13 Words substituted by National Loans Act 1968 (c. 13), s. 8(2)

20 Validity of payments to executors and administrators. U.K.

Where probate or letters of administration have been granted to any person in respect of the estate of a person entitled to an annuity under this Part of this Act, the production of the probate or letters of administration granted by any court in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands shall be a sufficient authority to the Commissioners to pay to the person to whom the probate or letters of administration have been granted any sum which may be due on account of such annuity if the amount of the estate exceeds that sum.

21 Payment of small sums on death without letters of administration. U.K.

On the death of a person to whom any sum not exceeding [F14 £5000] is due from the Commissioners in respect of any life annuity granted under this Part of this Act, then, if the Commissioners so direct and subject to the regulations (if any) made by the Treasury, probate or other proof of the title of the personal representative of the deceased person may be dispensed with, and the said sum may be paid or distributed to or among the persons appearing to the Commissioners beneficially entitled to the personal estate of the deceased person, or to or among any one or more of those persons, or in the case of the illegitimacy of the deceased person or his children, to or among such persons as the Commissioners may think fit, and the Commissioners shall be discharged from all liability in respect of any such payment or distribution.

Textual Amendments

F14 Amount substituted by virtue of Administration of Estates (Small Payments) Act 1965 (c. 32, SIF 116:1), ss. 1(1), 6, Sch. 1 Pt. I and S.I. 1984/539, art. 2(a)

22 Exemptions from duties. U.K.

(1) No stamp duty shall be payable in respect of—

(a)—(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15

(d) any transfer or acceptance of any such annuity in the books of the Commissioners . . . F16 ; or

(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F17

(f) any other instrument . . . F18 made out by or under the authority of the Commissioners.

(2) Annuities granted under this Part of this Act shall not be liable to any taxes, charges, or impositions, other than those to which dividends on consolidated stock may for the time being be liable.

Textual Amendments

F15 S. 22(1)(a)—(c) repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

F16 Words repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

F17 S. 22(1)(e) repealed (1.2.1971) by finance Act 1970 (c. 24), Sch. 8 Pt. V

F18 Words repealed by Finance Act 1985 (c. 54, SIF 114), s. 98(6), Sch. 27 Pt. IX(2)

23 Evidence. U.K.

(1) The Commissioners may, in any case where a declaration is required under this Part of this Act, require the declaration to be confirmed by an affidavit before the Comptroller-General or officer appointed for the purpose by the Commissioners, or before a justice of the peace or magistrate.

(2) Where a declaration is required to be produced under this Part of this Act for the purpose of receiving an annuity, an affidavit may be produced in lieu thereof.

(3) Where any evidence is produced by any person for the purpose of the . . . F19 receipt of an annuity which is not strictly conformable with the provisions of this Part of this Act, the Commissioners may admit such evidence if it appears satisfactory.

(4) The Commissioners or the Comptroller-General or any officer appointed for the purpose by the Commissioners may administer oaths for the purposes of affidavits under this Part of this Act.

Textual Amendments

F19 Words repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

24 Provisions as to warrants. U.K.

(1) All warrants of the Commissioners for the payment of sums payable by them under this Part of this Act may, subject to regulations made by the Commissioners, be sent by post.

(2) A warrant so sent by post shall be deemed to be a cheque of the Commissioners within the meaning of any enactment relating to cheques for the time being in force.

(3) Any person desirous of having a warrant for an annuity sent to him through the post shall give to the Commissioners an address in the British Islands to which a letter containing the warrant is to be sent, and, subject to the provisions of any regulations made under this Part of this Act, the posting by the Commissioners of a letter containing the warrant addressed to an annuitant at his request at the address given by him to the Commissioners shall, as respects the liability of the Commissioners and of the [F20 National Loans Fund], be equivalent to the delivery of the warrant to the annuitant himself.

(4) For the purposes of this Part of this Act, the expression “warrant” shall be deemed to include any draft, order, cheque, or other document for the time being used by the Commissioners as a medium for the payment of annuities under this Part of this Act.

Textual Amendments

F20 Words substituted by National Loans Act 1968 (c. 13), s. 8(2)

25 Provisions as to certificates, &c. U.K.

(1) Certificates, declarations, and other instruments required for the purposes of this Part of this Act shall be in such form and shall conform with such regulations as the Commissioners may approve.

(2) No fee shall be taken by any officer acting under the Commissioners for granting any certificate, or for any other act, matter or thing to be done in pursuance of this Part of this Act.

26 Power to correct errors. U.K.

The Commissioners may correct, rectify or amend any contract for an annuity, or any certificate or other instrument, in cases where any mistake or accidental error has been made in carrying out any provisions of this Part of this Act.

27 Regulations. U.K.

(1) The Commissioners may make regulations providing for the production or transmission by post or otherwise to the persons prescribed in the regulations of the certificates and declarations which are required to be produced before the payment of annuities, and with respect to any matters which under this Part of this Act are expressed to be subject to regulations of the Commissioners.

(2) The Commissioners, with the concurrence of the Treasury, may make regulations as to the mode in which any sum payable by the Commissioners in respect of an annuity under this Part of this Act may be paid, and the manner in which a valid discharge is to be given to the Commissioners for any such payment, and payments made and discharges given in accordance with the regulations shall be valid notwithstanding anything in this or any other Act to the contrary.

28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F21 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F21 Ss. 16–18, 28 repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

29 Allowances to Bank of England. U.K.

Such allowances to the Bank of England as the Treasury approve in respect of services rendered by the cashiers and other officers of the bank in the execution of this Part of this Act, shall be paid by the Treasury out of moneys provided by Parliament.

30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F22 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F22 S. 30 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1974 (c. 22), Sch. Pt. II

31 Punishment for improper receipt of annuity. U.K.

If any person contrary to the provisions of this Part of this Act receives any payment in respect of any life annuity after the death of the nominee, or of the survivor, or of either of two nominees in the case of an annuity depending on the joint continuance of two lives, knowing such nominee to be dead, he shall forfeit treble the amount of all money so received and also a further sum of five hundred pounds.

32 Punishment for false statements. F23 U.K.

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F24

(2) If any certificate of the existence or death or burial of any nominee given under this Part of this Act by a person prescribed in that behalf by a warrant of the Treasury is false, the person giving it shall, if he acted wilfully, be guilty of a misdemeanour, and, if he acted negligently, be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F23 level 3 on the standard scale].

(3) If any declaration made for the purposes of this Part of this Act is untrue in any particular, the person making the declaration shall, in addition to any other penalty to which he may be subject, forfeit the sum of one hundred pounds.

[F25 (4) If, in F26 . . . Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, any person in any declaration or affidavit for the purposes of this Part of this Act before any justice of the peace, magistrate, or officer of the Commissioners, wilfully makes any false statement, he shall be liable on conviction to be punished as if he were guilty of perjury.]

Textual Amendments

F23 Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46, and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c.21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289F, 289G and (N.I.) by S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3) arts. 5, 6

F24 S. 32(1) repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

F25 S. 32(4) repealed (S.) by False Oaths (Scotland) Act 1933 (c. 20), Sch.

F26 Word in s. 32(4) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. X Group 5

33 Forgery. U.K.

If, in Scotland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, any person forges or knowingly assists in forging or, with intent to defraud, utters to any person acting under this Part of this Act—

(a) any register of the birth, baptism, death, burial or marriage of any person appointed or to be appointed a nominee under this Part of this Act, or any copy or certificate of any such register, or the name of any witness to any such certificate;

(b) any declaration, warrant, order, or other instrument, or any affidavit required to be made by this Part of this Act or by the Commissioners under any authority given to them for that purpose;

(c) any certificate of any justice of the peace or magistrate of any such affidavit having been taken before him, or any certificate or order of any officer of the Commissioners;

(d) any certificate of any person authorised under this Part of this Act to grant any certificate of the life or death of any nominee;

(e) any certificate or order of any cashier or clerk of the Bank of England;

(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F27

(g) the name of any person on any transfer or acceptance of any such annuity . . . F28 in the books of the Commissioners;

(h) the name of any person on any receipt or discharge for any such annuity, or on any receipt or discharge for any payment due or to become due thereon;

(i) the name of any person on any letter of attorney or other authority or instrument authorising the transfer or acceptance . . . F28 of any annuity under the provisions of this Part of this Act, or authorising the receipt of any such annuity, or any payment due, or to become due thereon;

he shall on conviction be liable to [F29 imprisonment] for life.

Textual Amendments

F27 S. 33(f) repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

F28 Words repealed by Finance Act 1962 (c. 44), Sch. 11 Pt. VI

F29 Word substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1948 (c. 58), s. 1(1), (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21), s. 221(1) and (N.I.) Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1953 (c. 14), s. 1(1)

34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F30 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F30 S. 34 repealed by (E.W.S.) Theft Act 1968 (c. 60), Sch. 3 Pt. I and (N.I.) Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 (c. 16), Sch. 3 Pt. I

35 Recovery and application of penalties. U.K.

(1) All pecuniary penalties and forfeitures imposed by this Part of this Act (other than fines recoverable summarily) shall be recoverable by information in the High Court or as respects Scotland in the name of the Lord Advocate in the Court of Session.

(2) Every such penalty or forfeiture shall be paid into the Exchequer.

(3) It shall be lawful for the Commissioners to cause such reward as they think fit, not exceeding one-half of any such penalty or forfeiture so recovered, after deducting all charges and expenses incurred in recovering it, to be paid to any person who may appear to them to be entitled thereto as informer.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 35: Functions transferred from the Lord Advocate to The Advocate General for Scotland (in accordance with article 1(2)) by S.I. 1999/679, art. 2, Sch.

36 Repeals and Savings. U.K.

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F31

(2) This Part of this Act shall apply to all annuities granted before and in force at the commencement of this Act under any enactment so repealed as if they had been granted under this Part of this Act, and where a person entitled to an annuity granted before the commencement of this Act purchases an annuity under this Part of this Act depending on the life of the same nominee as the former annuity, the annuity so purchased shall be added to the former annuity, and the two shall be treated as a single annuity depending on the life of such nominee, as if both annuities had been granted under this Act

F32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) All regulations and tables made under any enactment so repealed shall continue in force and have effect as if they had been made under this Act.

(4) All powers of attorney and other instruments in respect of any annuity granted under any enactment so repealed, or in respect of an application for any such annuity, executed before the commencement of this Act, shall continue in force and have the same validity as if this Act had not been passed.

Textual Amendments

F31 S. 36(1) repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1950 (c. 6)

F32 S. 36(2) Proviso repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 9 Group 6

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 “so repealed” means repealed by s. 36(1)