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- Original (As enacted)
This is the original version (as it was originally enacted).
Section 40.
1. The Pension Schemes Act is amended as follows.
2. Before section 79 insert—
(1) This Chapter is about the revaluation of benefits for early leavers.
(2) The table contains an overview of the contents of this Chapter.
Section | General description |
---|---|
Section 79 | Benefits to which this Chapter applies |
Sections 80 and 80A | Basis of revaluation: benefits accrued before the 2016 Act commencement date |
Sections 80B and 80C | Basis of revaluation: benefits accrued on or after the 2016 Act commencement date |
Section 80D | Special rules for hybrid benefits |
Sections 80E and 80F | Revaluation by other methods |
Section 81 | Revaluation not to apply to substituted benefits |
Sections 81A to 82B | Supplementary provision and definitions |
(3) In this Chapter “the 2016 Act commencement date” means the date on which paragraph2 of Schedule 1 to the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 comes into operation.”.
3. In section 79, for subsection (1A) substitute—
“(1A) In subsection (1) “relevant benefits” means benefits that are—
(a)retirement benefits payable to a member, or
(b)benefits payable in respect of a member.
(1AA) This Chapter does not apply to any benefits payable by virtue of pension credit rights except, in the case of a salary related occupational pension scheme, to the extent that they involve the member being credited by the scheme with notional pensionable service.
(1AB) Where this Chapter applies in relation to a benefit payable by virtue of a pension credit right, then—
(a)if entitlement to the relevant pension credit arose before the 2016 Act commencement date, the benefit is to be treated for the purposes of sections 80(1) and 80B(2) as attributable to pensionable service before that date;
(b)if entitlement to the relevant pension credit arose on or after the 2016 Act commencement date, the benefit is to be treated for the purposes of sections 80(1) and 80B(2) as attributable to pensionable service on or after that date.
(1AC) “Pension credit rights” means rights that are attributable (directly or indirectly) to a pension credit.”.
4. For section 80 substitute—
(1) A benefit of the kind mentioned in section 79(1)(a) must be revalued in accordance with this section if it is attributable to pensionable service before the 2016 Act commencement date.
(2) The benefit must be revalued using the final salary method unless it is—
(a)a money purchase benefit (see subsection (3)),
(b)an average salary benefit revalued in accordance with subsection (4), or
(c)a flat rate benefit revalued in accordance with subsection (5).
(3) If the benefit is a money purchase benefit it must be revalued using the money purchase method.
(4) If the benefit is an average salary benefit it must be revalued using the average salary method if the trustees or managers of the scheme consider the average salary method to be more appropriate than the final salary method.
(5) If the benefit is a flat rate benefit it must be revalued using the default method if the trustees or managers of the scheme consider the default method to be more appropriate than the final salary method.
(1) A benefit of the kind mentioned in section 79(1)(b) must be revalued in accordance with this section if it is attributable to contributions received before the 2016 Act commencement date.
(2) The benefit must be revalued using the money purchase method.
(1) A benefit of the kind mentioned in section 79(1)(a) that is a collective benefit must be revalued using the default method.
(2) A benefit of the kind mentioned in section 79(1)(a) that is not a collective benefit must be revalued in accordance with the followingprovisions of this section if it is attributable to pensionable service on or after the 2016 Act commencement date.
(3) The benefit must be revalued using the default method unless it is—
(a)a money purchase benefit (see subsection (4)),
(b)a salary related benefit (see subsections (5) and (6)), or
(c)a flat rate benefit revalued in accordance with subsection (7).
(4) If the benefit is a money purchase benefit it must be revalued using the money purchase method.
(5) If the benefit is a salary related benefit it must be revalued using the final salary method unless it is revalued in accordance with subsection (6).
(6) If the benefit is an average salary benefit it must be revalued using the average salary method if the trustees or managers of the scheme consider the average salary method to be more appropriate than the final salary method.
(7) If the benefit is a flat rate benefit it must be revalued using the final salary method if the trustees or managers of the scheme consider the final salary method to be more appropriate than the default method.
(1) A benefit of the kind mentioned in section 79(1)(b) must be revalued in accordance with this section if it is attributable to contributions received on or after the 2016 Act commencement date.
(2) The benefit must be revalued using the default method unless it is a money purchase benefit.
(3) If the benefit is a money purchase benefit it must be revalued using the money purchase method.
(1) This section modifies the revaluation requirements in this Chapter in relation to hybrid benefits.
(2) “Hybrid benefit” means a benefit the rate or amount of which depends on which of two or more alternative methods of calculation produces the highest, or lowest, rate or amount.
(3) For hybrid benefits—
(a)first, calculate the benefit using each of those methods and revalue in accordance with this Chapter, and
(b)then, determine which method of calculation produces the highest, or lowest, rate or amount.
The fact that an occupational pension scheme provides for the amount of the pension or other benefit for a member or for any other person in respect of the member to be increased during the pre-pension period—
(a)by the percentages specified during that period under section 132(1) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (orders specifying percentage increases for up-rating purposes), or
(b)under any arrangement which maintains the value of the pension or other benefit by reference to the rise in the general level of prices during that period,
does not in itself result in conflict with section 80 or 80B, if the increase falls to be determined by reference to an amount from which the guaranteed minimum for a member or a member’s widow, widower or surviving civil partner has not been deducted.
(1) This section applies to a scheme which, before the 2016 Act commencement date, provided for any description of benefits to which this Chapter applies to be revalued by a method that the scheme was allowed to use under subsection (3A) or (3B) of the old section 80.
(2) The scheme may continue to use that method of revaluation in relation to that description of benefits for so long as it continues to contain that provision.
(3) In subsection (1), “the old section 80” means section 80 as it had effect immediately before the substitution made by Schedule 1 to the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.”.
5. After section 81 insert—
(1) Regulations may make provision enabling or requiring benefits of the kind mentioned in section 79(1)(b) to be revalued by the average salary or final salary method in specified cases.
(2) Regulations under this section—
(a)may amend this Chapter (and may, in particular, amend the average salary or final salary method as applied in relation to benefits of the kind mentioned in section 79(1)(b));
(b)may not change the revaluation method to be used for a benefit the right to which has already accrued.”.
6. After section 82 insert—
The revaluation methods referred to in this Chapter are defined by the provisions listed in the table.
Method | Provision |
---|---|
Average salary method | Paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 |
Default method | Paragraph A1 of Schedule 2 |
Final salary method | Paragraphs 1 to 2A of Schedule 2 |
Money purchase method | Paragraph 5 of Schedule 2 |
(1) In this Chapter—
“average salary benefit” means a benefit under an occupational pension scheme the rate or amount of which is calculated by reference to the member’s average salary over the period of service to which the benefit relates;
“final salary benefit” means a benefit under an occupational pension scheme that is calculated by reference to the member’s pensionable earnings, or highest, average or representative pensionable earnings, in a specified period ending at, or defined by reference to, the time when the member’s pensionable service in relation to that scheme ends;
“flat rate benefit” means a benefit under an occupational pension scheme the rate or amount of which is calculated by reference solely to the member’s length of service;
“salary related benefit” means a benefit under an occupational pension scheme the rate or amount of which is calculated by reference to the salary of the member.
(2) In subsection (1) “pensionable earnings”, in relation to a pension scheme and a member of it, means earnings by reference to which benefits under the scheme are calculated.”.
7. In section 181(2) (Assembly, etccontrol of regulations and orders) after “20B(5)” insert “, 81A”.
8. In Schedule 2 (revaluation methods), before paragraph 1 insert—
The default method is to revalue the benefits in any way in which they would have been revalued if—
(a)in the case of an occupational pension scheme, the member’s pensionable service had not terminated, or
(b)in the case of a personal pension scheme, contributions in respect of the member had not ceased to be paid.”.
9. Omit paragraphs 3A and 4 of that Schedule.
10. In paragraph 5(1) of that Schedule, for “if his pensionable service had not terminated” substitute
“if—
(a)in the case of an occupational pension scheme, the member’s pensionable service had not terminated, or
(b)in the case of a personal pension scheme, contributions in respect of the member had not ceased to be paid”.
11. Omit the following, which are no longer needed given the earlier provisions of this Schedule—
(a)paragraph 20(3) of Schedule 9 to the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999;
(b)Article 258 of the 2005 Order;
(c)section 20(1) to (3) of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2012.
Section 47.
1. The Pension Schemes Act is amended as follows.
2. In section 79 (scope of provisions about revaluation of benefits excluding guaranteed minimum pensions), in subsection (4), for paragraph (a) (but not the “and” at the end) substitute—
“(a)it is not a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits,”.
(3) In section 109 (disclosure of information about schemes to members etc), in subsection (9), for the definition of “relevant scheme” substitute—
““relevant scheme” means an occupational pension scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits.”.
4. In section 120 (duty of the Department for Employment and Learning to pay unpaid contributions to schemes), for subsection (3A) substitute—
“(3A) The sum payable under this section by virtue of subsection (3) shall be the lesser of the amounts mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (c) of that subsection in any case where the scheme is—
(a)a defined contributions scheme,
(b)a shared risk scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits, or
(c)a shared risk scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits or collective benefits.”.
5.—(1) In section 176 (interpretation), subsection (1) is amended as follows.
(2) At the appropriate places insert—
““collective benefit” has the meaning given by section 8 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”;
““defined benefits scheme” has the meaning given by section 2 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”;
““defined contributions scheme” has the meaning given by section 4 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”;
““shared risk scheme” has the meaning given by section 3 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”.
(3) Omit the definition of “money purchase scheme”.
6. The 1995 Order is amended as follows.
7. In Article 37 (payment of surplus to employer) in paragraph (1A)—
(a)after “does not apply in the case of” insert
“—
(a)”;
(b)at the end insert—
“(b)any payments out of funds held for the purposes of providing collective benefits under the scheme (but see section 24 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016).”.
8. In Article 38 (power to defer winding up), in paragraph (3), for sub-paragraph (a) (but not the “or” at the end) substitute—
“(a)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits,”.
9. In Article 51 (annual increase in rate of pension), in paragraph (1)(a)(iii), for “is not a money purchase scheme” substitute “is not a defined contributions scheme”.
10. In Article 51A (restrictions on increase where annuity tied to investments), in paragraph (1), for “money purchase scheme” substitute “defined contributions scheme”.
11. In Article 73 (preferential liabilities on winding up), for paragraph (2) substitute—
“(2) This Article applies to a pension scheme that is—
(a)an occupational defined benefits scheme,
(b)an occupational shared risk scheme, or
(c)an occupational defined contributions scheme,
unless paragraph (2A) provides for the scheme to be exempt.
(2A) A scheme is exempt from this Article if it is—
(a)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits, or
(b)a prescribed scheme or a scheme of a prescribed description.”.
12. In Article 75 (employer debt where deficiency in assets on winding up etc), for paragraph (1) substitute—
“(1) This Article applies in relation to a pension scheme that is—
(a)an occupational defined benefits scheme,
(b)an occupational shared risk scheme, or
(c)an occupational defined contributions scheme,
unless paragraph (1A) provides for the scheme to be exempt.
(1A) A scheme is exempt from this Article if it is—
(a)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits,
(b)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are collective benefits,
(c)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits or collective benefits, or
(d)a prescribed scheme or a scheme of a prescribed description.
(1B) Where—
(a)some of the benefits that may be provided under a scheme are collective benefits and some are not, and
(b)the scheme does not fall within sub-paragraph (c) or (d) of paragraph (1A),
the scheme is to be treated for the purposes of this Part as two separate schemes, one relating to the collective benefits and the other relating to the other benefits.”.
13.—(1) Article 85 (schedules of payments to money purchase schemes) is amended as follows.
(2) For paragraph (1) substitute—
“(1) This Article applies to an occupational pension scheme that is a scheme under which—
(a)all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits, or
(b)all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits or collective benefits,
other than a scheme falling within a prescribed class or description.”.
(3) In paragraph (2)(a), after “members of the scheme” insert “in respect of money purchase benefits”.
(4) In the heading, for “to money purchase schemes” substitute “in respect of money purchase benefits under certain schemes”.
14. For the italic cross-heading above Article 85 substitute “Schemes providing money purchase benefits”.
15. In the heading to Article 86 (schedules of payments to money purchase schemes: supplementary), for “to money purchase schemes” substitute “in respect of money purchase benefits under certain schemes”.
16.—(1) Article 87 (application of further provisions to money purchase schemes) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (1), for “money purchase schemes” substitute “schemes under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits and that are schemes”.
(3) In paragraph (2), for “money purchase schemes” substitute “schemes under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits”.
17. In Article 121 (interpretation), in paragraph (1), at the appropriate places insert—
““collective benefit” has the meaning given by section 8 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”,
““defined benefits scheme” has the meaning given by section 2 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”,
““defined contributions scheme” has the meaning given by section 4 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”,
““occupational”, in relation to a defined benefits scheme, shared risk scheme or defined contributions scheme, means an occupational pension scheme of that description;”,
““shared risk scheme” has the meaning given by section 3 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”.
18.—(1) Article 122 (interpretation of Part 2: supplementary) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (1), for sub-paragraph (a) (but not the “and” at the end) substitute—
“(a)the scheme is not a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits,”.
(3) In paragraph (2), for sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute “under which some but not all of the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits”.
19. In Article 35 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (treatment in winding up), in paragraph (2A), for sub-paragraph (a) (but not the “or” at the end) substitute—
“(a)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits,”.
20. The 2005 Order is amended as follows.
21.—(1) Article 2 (interpretation) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (2)—
(a)at the appropriate places insert—
““collective benefit” has the meaning given by section 8 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”;
““defined benefits scheme” has the meaning given by section 2 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”;
““defined contributions scheme” has the meaning given by section 4 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”;
““occupational”, in relation to a defined benefits scheme, shared risk scheme or defined contributions scheme, means an occupational pension scheme of that description;”;
““shared risk scheme” has the meaning given by section 3 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”;
(b)omit the definition of “money purchase scheme”.
(3) In paragraph (4)—
(a)in sub-paragraph (a), after paragraph (ix) insert—
“(x)regulations made under Schedule 17 to the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015;
(xi)regulations made under Schedule 18 to the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015;
(xii)regulations made under Part 2 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.”;
(b)in sub-paragraph (b), after paragraph (vii) insert—
“(viii)regulations made under paragraph 16 of Schedule 17 to the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015;
(ix)regulations made under paragraph 6 of Schedule 18 to the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015;
(x)regulations made under section 34 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.”.
22. In Article 9 (improvement notices), in paragraph (7)—
(a)omit the “, or” at the end of sub-paragraph (e);
(b)after sub-paragraph (f) insert
“, or
(g)the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.”.
23. In Article 13 (power of the Regulator to recover unpaid contributions), in paragraph (3)—
(a)in paragraph (b) of the definition of “due date”, for “to money purchase schemes” substitute “in respect of money purchase benefits under certain schemes”;
(b)in paragraph (a) of the definition of “employer contribution”, for “to money purchase schemes” substitute “in respect of money purchase benefits under certain schemes”.
24.—(1) Article 19 (freezing orders) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (1), for “which is not a money purchase scheme” substitute “unless it is excluded by paragraph (1A)”.
(3) After that paragraph insert—
“(1A) A scheme is excluded if—
(a)all the benefits that may be provided under the scheme are money purchase benefits, and
(b)the scheme does not provide for there to be a third party promise about the rate or amount of any benefit at a time before the benefit comes into payment (see paragraph (10A)).”.
(4) In paragraph (2), for “such a scheme” substitute “a scheme to which this Article applies”.
(5) After paragraph (10) insert—
“(10A) For the purposes of paragraph (1A)(b), a scheme provides for there to be a third party promise if the scheme—
(a)requires the promise to be obtained from a third party, or
(b)provides for the member to be given the option of requiring a promise to be obtained from a third party (whether or not the option is subject to conditions).”.
25. In Article 34 (contribution notices where avoidance of employer debt), for paragraph (1) substitute—
“(1) This Article applies in relation to a pension scheme that is—
(a)an occupational defined benefits scheme,
(b)an occupational shared risk scheme, or
(c)an occupational defined contributions scheme,
unless paragraph (1A) provides for the scheme to be exempt.
(1A) A scheme is exempt from this Article if it is—
(a)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits,
(b)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are collective benefits,
(c)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits or collective benefits, or
(d)a prescribed scheme or a scheme of a prescribed description.
(1B) Where—
(a)some of the benefits that may be provided under a scheme are collective benefits and some are not, and
(b)the scheme does not fall within sub-paragraph (c) or (d) of paragraph (1A),
the scheme is to be treated for the purposes of this Article and Articles 34A to 38 as two separate schemes, one relating to the collective benefits and the other relating to the other benefits.”.
26.—(1) Article 39 (financial support directions) is amended as follows.
(2) For paragraph (1) substitute—
“(1) This Article applies in relation to a pension scheme that is—
(a)an occupational defined benefits scheme,
(b)an occupational shared risk scheme, or
(c)an occupational defined contributions scheme,
unless paragraph (1A) provides for the scheme to be exempt.
(1A) A scheme is exempt from this Article if it is—
(a)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits,
(b)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are collective benefits,
(c)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits or collective benefits, or
(d)a prescribed scheme or a scheme of a prescribed description.
(1B) Where—
(a)some of the benefits that may be provided under a scheme are collective benefits and some are not, and
(b)the scheme does not fall within sub-paragraph (c) or (d) of paragraph (1A),
the scheme is to be treated for the purposes of this Article and Articles 39A to 47 as two separate schemes, one relating to the collective benefits and the other relating to the other benefits.”.
(3) In paragraph (2), for “such a scheme” substitute “a scheme to which this Article applies”.
27. In Article 48 (restoration orders where transactions at an undervalue), for paragraph (1) substitute—
“(1) This Article applies in relation to a pension scheme that is—
(a)an occupational defined benefits scheme,
(b)an occupational shared risk scheme, or
(c)an occupational defined contributions scheme,
unless paragraph (1A) provides for the scheme to be exempt.
(1A) A scheme is exempt from this Article if it is—
(a)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits,
(b)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are collective benefits,
(c)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits or collective benefits, or
(d)a prescribed scheme or a scheme of a prescribed description.
(1B) Where—
(a)some of the benefits that may be provided under a scheme are collective benefits and some are not, and
(b)the scheme does not fall within sub-paragraph (c) or (d) of paragraph (1A),
the scheme is to be treated for the purposes of this Article and Articles 49 to 52 as two separate schemes, one relating to the collective benefits and the other relating to the other benefits.”.
28.—(1) Article 85 (codes of practice) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (2)(i), for “money purchase schemes” substitute “certain schemes”.
(3) In paragraph (6), in the definition of “the pensions legislation”—
(a)omit the “or” at the end of paragraph (c);
(b)after paragraph (d) insert—
“(e)Schedule 18 to the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015, or
(f)the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.”.
29. In Article 110 (schemes eligible for pension protection), for paragraph (1) substitute—
“(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Article, in this Part references to an “eligible scheme” are to a pension scheme that is—
(a)an occupational defined benefits scheme,
(b)an occupational shared risk scheme, or
(c)an occupational defined contributions scheme.
(1A) A scheme is not an eligible scheme if it is—
(a)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits,
(b)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are collective benefits,
(c)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits or collective benefits, or
(d)a prescribed scheme or a scheme of a prescribed description.
(1B) Where—
(a)some of the benefits that may be provided under a scheme are collective benefits and some are not, and
(b)the scheme does not fall within sub-paragraph (c) or (d) of paragraph (1A),
the scheme is to be treated for the purposes of this Part as two separate schemes, one relating to the collective benefits and the other relating to the other benefits.”.
30. For Article 200 (application of scheme funding rules in Part 4), substitute—
200.—(1) The provisions of this Part apply to a pension scheme that is—
(a)an occupational defined benefits scheme,
(b)an occupational shared risk scheme, or
(c)an occupational defined contributions scheme,
unless paragraph (2) provides for the scheme to be exempt.
(2) A scheme is exempt from this Part if it is—
(a)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits,
(b)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are collective benefits,
(c)a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits or collective benefits, or
(d)a prescribed scheme or a scheme of a prescribed description.
(3) Where—
(a)some of the benefits that may be provided under a scheme are collective benefits and some are not, and
(b)the scheme does not fall within sub-paragraph (c) or (d) of paragraph (2),
the scheme is to be treated for the purposes of this Part as two separate schemes, one relating to the collective benefits and the other relating to the other benefits.
(4) Regulations under paragraph (2)(d) may provide for exemptions from all or any of the provisions of this Part, but for the purposes of paragraph (3)(b) a scheme falls within paragraph (2)(d) only if it is exempt from all of the provisions of this Part.”.
31. In Article 231 (representative of non-European scheme to be treated as trustee), in paragraph (3)—
(a)omit the “or” at the end of sub-paragraph (c);
(b)after sub-paragraph (d) insert
“, or
(e)the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.”.
32. In Article 235 (pension protection on transfer of employment: form of protection), in paragraph (2)—
(a)in sub-paragraph (b), for “money purchase scheme” substitute “scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits”;
(b)in sub-paragraph (c), for “money purchase scheme” substitute “scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits”.
33. In Article 267 (duty of trustees or managers to act consistently with law of host EEA state), in paragraph (4)—
(a)omit the “or” at the end of sub-paragraph (c);
(b)after sub-paragraph (d) insert
“, or
(e)the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.”.
34. In Article 280 (modification of Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 in relation to certain categories of schemes), in paragraph (4), for paragraph (a) of the definition of “hybrid scheme” (but not the “but” at the end) substitute—
“(a)which is not a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits,”.
35. The Pensions (No2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 is amended as follows.
36.—(1) Section 20 (quality requirement: UK money purchase schemes) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), for “A money purchase scheme” substitute “An occupational defined contributions scheme”.
(3) In the heading, for “money purchase schemes” substitute “occupational defined contributions schemes”.
37. In section 21 (quality requirement: UK defined benefits schemes) for “A defined benefits scheme” substitute “An occupational defined benefits scheme”.
38. In section 23A (alternative quality requirements for UK defined benefits schemes), in subsection (1), for “a defined benefits scheme” substitute “an occupational defined benefits scheme”.
39.—(1) Section 24 (quality requirement: UK hybrid schemes) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a)for “A hybrid scheme” substitute “A shared risk scheme”;
(b)in paragraph (a), for “a money purchase scheme” substitute “an occupational defined contributions scheme”;
(c)in paragraph (b), for “a defined benefits scheme” substitute “an occupational defined benefits scheme”;
(d)after paragraph (b) insert—
“(c)the requirements under section 26 for a personal pension scheme that is a defined contributions scheme, subject to any prescribed modifications.”.
(3) In subsection (2), for “hybrid scheme” substitute “shared risk scheme”.
(4) In the heading, for “hybrid schemes” substitute “shared risk schemes”.
40.—(1) Section 26 (quality requirement: UK personal pension schemes) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), after “personal pension scheme” insert “that is a defined contributions scheme”.
(3) Omit subsection (3) (requirement for all benefits to be money purchase benefits).
(4) In subsection (4), for “second condition” substitute “first condition”.
(5) In subsection (6), for “third condition” substitute “second condition”.
(6) In subsection (7), for “fourth condition” substitute “third condition”.
41.—(1) Section 28 (certification that quality requirement or alternative requirement is satisfied) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (3)—
(a)in paragraph (a), for “a money purchase scheme” substitute “an occupational defined contributions scheme”;
(b)in paragraph (b), after “a personal pension scheme” insert “that is a defined contributions scheme”;
(c)for paragraph (c) substitute—
“(c)a shared risk scheme, to the extent that requirements within section 24(1)(a) or (c) apply.”.
(3) In subsection (3A)—
(a)for paragraph (a) substitute—
“(a)an occupational defined contributions scheme that is within section 18(b);”;
(b)for paragraph (c) substitute—
“(c)an occupational shared risk scheme that is within section 18(b), to the extent prescribed;”.
(4) In subsection (3B), for “a defined benefits scheme” substitute “an occupational defined benefits scheme”.
42. For the heading to section 29 substitute “Transitional periods for certain schemes”.
43.—(1) Section 30 (transitional period for defined benefits and hybrid schemes) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), for “hybrid schemes” substitute “shared risk schemes”.
(3) In subsection (2)(b) and (c), for “a defined benefits scheme or a defined benefits member of a hybrid scheme” substitute “an occupational defined benefits scheme or a defined benefits member of a shared risk scheme”.
(4) In subsection (3)—
(a)in the opening words, for “hybrid schemes” substitute “shared risk schemes”;
(b)in the substituted subsection (2), for paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute—
“(a)an active member, with effect from the end of the transitional period for defined benefits and shared risk schemes, of an automatic enrolment scheme which is an occupational defined benefits scheme, or
(b)a defined benefits member, with effect from the end of that period, of an automatic enrolment scheme which is a shared risk scheme.”.
(5) In subsection (4), for “hybrid schemes” substitute “shared risk schemes”.
(6) In subsection (5)—
(a)in the substituted subsection (2)(a), for “a defined benefits scheme” substitute “an occupational defined benefits scheme”;
(b)in the substituted subsection (2)(a), for “hybrid scheme” substitute “shared risk scheme”;
(c)in the substituted subsection (2)(aa), for “hybrid scheme” substitute “shared risk scheme”;
(d)in the substituted subsection (2), for paragraph (b) substitute—
“(b)becomes an active member, with effect from the automatic enrolment date, of an automatic enrolment scheme which is—
(i)a personal pension scheme other than a shared risk scheme, or
(ii)an occupational pension scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits or collective benefits;”;
(e)in the substituted subsection (2)(c), for “hybrid scheme” substitute “shared risk scheme”;
(f)in the substituted subsection (2)(d), for “a defined benefits scheme” substitute “an occupational defined benefits scheme”;
(g)in the substituted subsection (2)(e), for “hybrid scheme” substitute “shared risk scheme”.
(7) In subsections (8) and (9), for “hybrid schemes” substitute “shared risk schemes”.
(8) In subsection (10)(a) and (b), for “hybrid scheme” substitute “shared risk scheme”.
(9) In subsection (11)—
(a)in paragraph (a), for “a defined benefits scheme” substitute “an occupational defined benefits scheme”;
(b)in paragraph (b), for “hybrid scheme” substitute “shared risk scheme”.
(10) In the heading, for “hybrid schemes” substitute “shared risk schemes”.
44. In section 35 (compliance notices), in subsection (5), for “a defined benefits scheme or a hybrid scheme” substitute “an occupational defined benefits scheme or a shared risk scheme”.
45. In section 38 (calculation and payment of contributions), in subsection (2)(e), for “a money purchase scheme, a hybrid scheme or a personal pension scheme” substitute “a defined contributions scheme or a shared risk scheme”.
46.—(1) Section 78 (interpretation) is amended as follows.
(2) For the definition of “defined benefits scheme” substitute—
““defined benefits scheme” has the meaning given by section 2 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”.
(3) At the appropriate places insert—
““collective benefit” has the meaning given by section 8 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”;
““defined contributions scheme” has the meaning given by section 4 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”;
““occupational”, in relation to a defined benefits scheme, shared risk scheme or defined contributions scheme, means an occupational pension scheme of that description;”;
““shared risk scheme” has the meaning given by section 3 of the Pension Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;”.
(4) Omit the following definitions—
“defined benefits”;
“hybrid scheme”;
“money purchase scheme”.
47.—(1) Schedule 17 to the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (automatic transfer of pension benefits etc) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph 1(2)(a) and (5)(a), for “money purchase scheme” substitute “scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits”.
(3) In paragraph 14(1) omit the definition of “money purchase scheme”.
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