Friendly Societies Act 1992

Part II Northern Ireland

17 The [S.I.1979/1574 (N.I.13.)] Industrial Assurance (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 shall be amended as follows.

18 (1) In Article 2, in paragraph (2), for the definitions of “collecting society”, “the Friendly Societies Act” and “industrial assurance company”, respectively, there shall be substituted—

• ““collecting society” means an incorporated friendly society or registered friendly society which carries on industrial assurance business in Northern Ireland”;

• ““the Friendly Societies Act” means the Friendly Societies Act 1974”;

• ““industrial assurance company” means a body corporate which carries on industrial assurance business in Northern Ireland other than an incorporated friendly society”.

(2) In that paragraph—

(a) in the definition of “exempted business”, in paragraph (c), for the words “the Commissioner certifies” there shall be substituted “it has been certified”;

(b) after the definition of “collector” there shall be inserted—

““the Commission” means the Friendly Societies Commission;

“friendly society” and “incorporated friendly society” have the same meanings as in the Friendly Societies Act 1992”; and

(c) in the definition of “Registrar”, for the words “Friendly Societies Act” there shall be substituted “Friendly Societies Act (Northern Ireland) 1970”.

(3) After that paragraph there shall be inserted the following paragraph—

“(2A) In paragraph (2) above, in the definition of “exempted business”, in paragraph (c) “certified” means—

(a) in relation to a time before Schedule 19 to the Friendly Societies Act 1992 came into force, certified by the Registrar in his capacity as Industrial Assurance Commissioner; and

(b) in relation to a time after the coming into force of that Schedule, certified by the Commission.”

(6) In Article 2(4), for the words “Friendly Societies Act” there shall be substituted “Friendly Societies Act (Northern Ireland) 1970.”

19 In Article 4(2), for the word “Registrar” there shall be substituted “Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies”.

20 In the following provisions—

(a) Article 4(2),

(b) Article 12(3),

(c) Article 13,

(d) Article 18(3),

(e) Article 23(1),

(f) Article 24,

(g) Article 35(3),

(h) Article 42(1)(b),

(i) Article 43(1)(b),

(j) paragraph 1(a) and (b) of Schedule 4,

(k) paragraphs 5(1) and (2), 6 and 7 of Schedule 5, and

(l) Schedule 7,

for the word “Commissioner”, wherever occurring, there shall be substituted “Commission”.

21 In Article 12, for paragraph (1) there shall be substituted the following paragraph—

“(1) The Commission may, on the application of a collecting society, grant it a certificate of exemption from all or any of the provisions of this Order, in any case where the Commission is satisfied that the society does not or will not carry on the business of effecting assurances upon human life, premiums in respect of which are received by means of collectors at a greater distance than ten miles from the registered office of the society, and where the Commission is of the opinion that the society is not one to which those provisions ought to apply.”

22 In Article 13(1), for the word “registered” there shall be substituted “whose registered office is”.

23 In Article 14, after paragraph (2) there shall be inserted the following paragraph—

“(3) In paragraph (2) above “shown” means—

(a) in relation to a time before Schedule 19 to the Friendly Societies Act 1992 came into force, shown to the satisfaction of the Registrar in his capacity as Industrial Assurance Commissioner; and

(b) in relation to a time after the coming into force of that Schedule, shown to the satisfaction of the Commission.”

24 (1) Article 18 shall be amended as follows.

(2) For paragraphs (1) and (2) there shall be substituted the following paragraphs—

“(1) If in the opinion of the Commission there is reasonable cause to believe that an offence against this Order or against the Insurance Companies Act 1982 has been or is likely to be committed by an industrial assurance company, the Commission or any inspector appointed by it for the purpose shall have power to examine into and report on the affairs of the company, and for that purpose may exercise in respect of the company all or any of the powers given by Part V of the Friendly Societies Act 1992 to a person appointed by the Commission to investigate a friendly society.

(2) Where it receives the report of a person appointed under paragraph (1), the Commission may issue such directions and take such steps as it considers necessary or proper to deal with the situation disclosed by the report and in particular may present a petition to the court for the winding up of the company.”

(3) In paragraph (3), for the words “he” and “him” there shall be substituted “it”.

25 For Article 29 there shall be substituted the following Article—

“29 A forfeiture shall not be incurred by any member or person assured in a collecting society or industrial assurance company by reason of any default in paying any premium under a contract the effecting of which constituted the carrying on of industrial assurance business until after—

(a) notice stating the amount due from him, and informing him that in case of default of payment by him within 28 days and at a place to be specified in the notice his interest or benefit will be forfeited, has been served upon him by or on behalf of the society or company; and

(b) default has been made by him in paying any premium in accordance with that notice.”

26 In Article 32, for paragraph (1) there shall be substituted the following paragraph—

“(1) A person assured with an industrial assurance company shall not, without his written consent or, in the case of a person under the age of 18, without the written consent of his parent or other guardian, be transferred from the company to another company or to a collecting society except on an amalgamation or transfer of business under Article 40 or any other enactment, and any company and any collector or other officer of any company concerned in such a transfer shall, if the provisions of this Article are not complied with, be deemed to have contravened the provisions of this Order.”

27 For Article 36 there shall be substituted the following Article—

“36 Disputes

Any dispute between an industrial assurance company and—

(a) any person assured; or

(b) any person claiming through a person assured or under or in respect of any policy, or under the rules of the company, or under this Order,

may, notwithstanding any provision of the rules to the contrary, be determined by the county court.”

28 For Article 37 there shall be substituted the following Article—

“37 Disabilities of collectors etc

(1) A collector of an industrial assurance company shall not be a member of the board of directors, or hold any other office in the company except that of superintending collectors within a specified area.

(2) A collector or superintendent shall not be present at any meeting of the company.”

29 (1) In Article 46, in paragraph (2) for the word “Commissioner” there shall be substituted “relevant authority”.

(2) After that paragraph there shall be inserted the following paragraph—

“(2A) In paragraph (2) above “relevant authority” means—

(a) in relation to a time before Schedule 19 to the Friendly Societies Act 1992 came into force, the Registrar; and

(b) in relation to a time after the coming into force of that Schedule, the Commission.”

30 In Schedule 3, in paragraph 10, in paragraph (d) of the definition of “relevant insurance” for the words “paragraph 2(d)” there shall be substituted “paragraph (2)(d)”.

31 In Schedule 4—

(a) in paragraph 1(a) for the words “sections 62 and 63(2) and (3)” there shall be substituted “sections 72 and 73(2) and (3)”; and

(b) in paragraph 1(b)—

(i) for the words from “section 61(1)” to “Schedule 7” there shall be substituted “section 71(1) to (4) of, and paragraph 5 of Schedule 6”; and

(ii) for the words “section 62” there shall be substituted “section 72”.

32 (1) In Schedule 5, in paragraph 5(1), for the word “he” there shall be substituted “the Commission”.

(2) In paragraphs 6 and 7 of that Schedule, for the words “him” and “he” there shall be substituted “it” and for the word “himself” there shall be substituted “itself”.