2. The earnings factors(1) for tax years specified in the first column of the Schedule to this Order, in so far as they are relevant(2) –
(a)to the calculation –
(i)of the additional pension in the rate of any long-term benefit, or
(ii)of any guaranteed minimum pension, or
(b)to any other calculation required under Part III of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993(3) (including that Part as modified by or under any other enactment),
are directed to be increased for those tax years by the percentage of their amount shown opposite those tax years in the second column of that Schedule.
See sections 22 and 23 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 7). Section 22 was amended by paragraph 5 of Schedule 2 to the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/2705 (N.I. 15)), paragraph 43 of Schedule 6 to the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I. 10)), section 29(1) of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000 (c. 4 (N.I.)) and by paragraph 26 of Schedule 1 to the National Insurance Contributions Act 2002 (c. 19) subject to section 8(2) of that Act. Section 23 was amended by paragraph 31 of Schedule 7 to the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993, Article 131(1) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and by paragraph 27 of Schedule 1 to the National Insurance Contributions Act 2002 subject to section 8(2) of that Act. See also sections 45B(6), 55A(5) and 55B(6) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, inserted by paragraphs 2 and 3 of Schedule 6 to the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11)), under which state scheme pension debits and credits are to be increased by reference to percentage figures specified in orders under section 130 of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992
Earnings factors for any tax year after the tax year 1996-1997 are not relevant to the calculation of any guaranteed minimum; see section 10(8) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 as amended by paragraph 20(b) of Schedule 3 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995