The Pensions (1995 Order) (Commencement No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order.)

This Order provides for the coming into operation of further provisions of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (“the Order”) on the following dates—

• 14th March 1996 for—

  • the purpose only of authorising the making of orders under the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (“the Pension Schemes Act”) specifying the reduction in the rates of State scheme contributions and the rebates payable in respect of members of contracted-out occupational pension schemes and appropriate personal pension schemes,

  • the purpose only of authorising the making of certain regulations, in particular, under provisions relating to interim arrangements in relation to appropriate personal pension schemes and the discharge of protected rights by money purchase occupational pension schemes;

• 6th April 1996 for—

  • the purpose of bringing fully into operation those provisions which were commenced on 14th March 1996 for the purpose only of authorising the making of regulations,

  • provisions relating to the disclosure of information by the Department, the aggregation of earnings in relation to Class 1 contributions and certain other general provisions of the Order,

  • the purpose only of authorising the making of certain regulations under—

    • Part II of the Order concerning the regulation of occupational pension schemes,

    • Part IV of the Order concerning contracting-out,

    • Part V of the Order concerning transfer values and penalties for breach of regulations under the Pension Schemes Act;

• 1st June 1996 for—

  • the purpose only of authorising the making of regulations about contracting-out by hybrid schemes;

• 6th October 1996 for—

  • certain provisions relating to member-nominated trustees and directors to come into operation for transitional purposes only;

• 6th April 1997 for—

  • Article 133 (new contracting-out requirements), in so far as it is not already in operation, and that day is designated as the principal appointed day for the purposes of Part IV of the Order.