6. After section 3 insert—
“3A. Meaning of the first abolition date” and the second abolition date”
In this Act—
“the first abolition date” means 6 April 2012 (the date appointed for the commencement of section 13(1) of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (abolition of contracting-out for defined contribution pension schemes));
“the second abolition date” means 6 April 2016 (the date on which section 53(3) of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 provides for the commencement of section 24(1) of that Act (abolition of contracting-out for salary related schemes)).
3B. Meaning of “contracted-out scheme” and “appropriate scheme” etc.
(1) This section applies for the interpretation of this Act.
(2) An occupational pension scheme was “contracted-out” at a time if, at that time, there was in force a certificate under section 3 (as it then had effect) stating that the employment of an earner in employed earner’s employment was contracted-out employment by reference to the scheme.
(3) “Contracting-out certificate” means a certificate of the kind mentioned in subsection (2).
(4) An occupational pension scheme was a “salary related contracted-out scheme” at a time if, at that time, the scheme was contracted-out by virtue of satisfying section 5(2) (as it then had effect).
(5) An occupational pension scheme was a “money purchase contracted-out scheme” at a time if, at that time, the scheme was contracted-out by virtue of satisfying section 5(3) (as it then had effect).
(6) A personal pension scheme was an “appropriate scheme” at a time 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.
(7) “Appropriate scheme certificate” means a certificate of the kind mentioned in subsection (6).
(8) An appropriate scheme certificate that was in force in relation to a scheme is to be taken as conclusive that the scheme was, at that time, an appropriate scheme.”.