(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order commences provisions of the Financial Guidance and Claims Act 2018 (“the Act”) relating to requirements to refer individuals to pensions guidance.
Article 2 appoints 15th March 2022 as the day for the coming into operation of section 19(7) and (8) of the Act which inserts section 109B into the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (c. 49) (occupational pension schemes: requirements to refer members to guidance etc), for the purpose only of authorising the making of regulations by the Department for Communities.
Article 2 also appoints 15th March 2022 as the day for the coming into operation of section 19(9) of the Act which amends section 177(6) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (orders and regulations) to create an exception to the power of the Department of Finance (see section 1(4) of the Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (c. 5 (N.I.))) to direct that regulation-making powers are exercisable only in conjunction with it.