7(1)" 5 years' qualifying service " means 5 years (whether a single period of that duration or two or more periods, continuous or discontinuous, totalling 5 years) in which the member was at all times employed either—
(a)in pensionable service under the scheme ; or
(b)in service in recognised pensionable employment by reference to the scheme ; or
(c)in linked qualifying service under another scheme,
no regard being had to whether or not it was the same description of service in the whole of the 5 years.
(2)A period of service previously terminated is not to count towards the 5 years' qualifying service unless it counts towards qualification for long service benefit, and need then count only to the same extent and in the same way.