Each employing authority must contribute to the Scheme, in respect of each person who is an active member of the scheme in an employment with the authority, at such a rate as the Department specifies from time to time.

In specifying such a rate, the Department must take account of the cost of providing for any increase in pensions under the Scheme as a result of orders made under the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 M1 and Article 69 of the Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 M2.

Any contributions payable under this regulation must be paid to the Department.

If for any period a person holds more than one employment with an employing authority in respect of which the person is an active member of the Scheme, this regulation applies in respect of each of those employments as if it were the only employment held.

The rate for the period commencing on 1st April 2008 and ending on 31st March 2009 is 15.7%.