Part XI General and miscellaneous provisions
Modification powers
I1153 Power to modify certain provisions of this Act.
1
The Secretary of State may by regulations direct that Chapters II, III and IV of Part IV F16...shall have effect, in such cases as he may specify in the regulations, subject to such modifications as he may specify.
2
Regulations may modify Chapter I of Part IV—
a
in its application to cases where an earner is for the time being, or has been, employed in pensionable service under, or in contracted-out employment by reference to, different schemes applying to the same employment;
b
in such manner as the Secretary of State thinks fit for securing that the preservation requirements include requirements for provision to be made in a scheme as to the preservation of a member’s benefit in the event of the scheme being wound up;
c
without prejudice to paragraph (a) or (b), so that the preservation requirements apply with such modifications and exceptions as the Secretary of State considers to be necessary for particular cases or classes of case;
and regulations under paragraph (a) may relate to service under or, as the case may be, by reference to different schemes at the same time, or at different times.
F23
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F24
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5
The Secretary of State may make regulations modifying F17... section 129 (so far as it applies to that Chapter) or section 144, in their application—
a
to any occupational pension scheme which applies to earners in employments under different employers;
b
to any occupational pension scheme of which there are no members who are in pensionable service under the scheme; F18or
c
to any case where a partnership is the employer, or one of the employers, in relation to an occupational pension scheme; F19...
F19d
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F206
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F207
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8
The Secretary of State may by order provide that any enactment in Chapter II of Part VII which is specified in the order—
a
shall not apply to persons or to employments of such classes as may be prescribed in the order; or
b
shall apply to persons or employments of such classes as may be so prescribed subject, but without prejudice to paragraph (a), to such exceptions or modifications as may be so prescribed;
and in this subsection “employments” has the same meaning as in that Chapter.
I1154 Application of enactments as respects personal pension schemes.
1
Regulations may provide that any provision of this Act F21or of sections 22 to 26 and 40 of the Pensions Act 1995 which relates to occupational pension schemes (other than a provision to which subsection (2) applies) shall have effect in relation to personal pension schemes subject to prescribed modifications.
2
This subsection applies to section 66, section 111 so far as it relates to occupational pension schemes, (and Part VIII and section 153 so far as they have effect for the purposes of section 111 as it so relates), sections 117, 123 to 127, 155, 157, 160 and 161.
Information about schemes
I1155 Requirement to give information to the Secretary of State or the Board for the purposes of certain provisions.
Regulations may require the furnishing by prescribed persons to the Secretary of State F12or the Board of such information as he F13or they requireF13requires for the purposes of F14sections 7, 9, 26 to 33, 34, 38, 43 to 45 (so far as they relate to personal pension schemes), section 48 (so far as it relates to minimum contributions), section 50 (so far as it relates to personal pension schemes), section 54, sections 55 to 64 (so far as they relate to personal pension protected rights premiums)F14Part III, section 111 (and Part VIII and section 153 so far as they have effect for the purposes of section 111), section 117 and section 159 (so far as it relates to protected rights payments).
I1156 Information as to guaranteed minimum pensions.
The Secretary of State may give—
a
the trustees or managers of an occupational pension scheme which is not a money purchase contracted-out scheme; and
b
such other persons as may be prescribed,
information as to the amount of the guaranteed minimum pension to which it appears to him that any person is immediately or prospectively entitled under the scheme or as to any other matter required for calculating that amount.
I1157 Power of Secretary of State to obtain information in connection with applications under s. 124.
1
Where an application is made to the Secretary of State under section 124 in respect of contributions to an occupational pension scheme or personal pension scheme falling to be made, by an employer, the Secretary of State may require—
a
the employer to provide him with such information as the Secretary of State may reasonably require for the purpose of determining whether the application is well founded; and
b
any person having the custody or control of any relevant records or other documents to produce for examination on behalf of the Secretary of State any such document in that person’s custody or under his control which is of such a description as the Secretary of State may require.
2
Any such requirement shall be made in writing given to the person on whom the requirement is imposed and may be varied or revoked by a subsequent notice so given.
3
If a person refuses or wilfully neglects to furnish any information or produce any document which he has been required to furnish or produce by a notice under this section he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
4
If a person, in purporting to comply with a requirement of a notice under this section, knowingly or recklessly makes any false statement, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
5
This section shall be construed as if it were in Chapter II of Part VII.
I1158 Disclosure of information between government departments etc.
1
No obligation as to secrecy imposed by statute or otherwise on persons employed in relation to the Inland Revenue shall prevent information obtained or held in connection with the assessment or collection of income tax from being disclosed—
a
to the Secretary of State,
b
to the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland, or
c
to an officer of either of them authorised to receive such information, in connection with the operation of this Act (except Chapter II of Part VII and sections 157 and 161) or of any corresponding enactment of Northern Ireland legislation.
F222
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F223
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4
In relation to persons who are carrying on or have carried on a trade, profession or vocation income from which is chargeable to tax under Case I or II of Schedule D, disclosure under subsection (1) relating to that trade, profession or vocation shall be limited to information about the commencement or cessation of, and employed earners engaged in, that trade, profession or vocation, but sufficient information may also be given to identify the persons concerned.
5
Subsections (1) to (3) extend only to disclosure by or under the authority of the Inland Revenue.
6
Subject to subsection (7), information which is the subject of disclosure to any person by virtue of subsection (1), F23...shall not be further disclosed to any other person, except where the further disclosure is made—
a
to a person to whom disclosure could by virtue of this section have been made by or under the authority of the Inland Revenue; or
b
for the purposes of any civil or criminal proceedings in connection with the operation of this Act (except Chapter II of Part VII and sections 157 and 161); or
c
F24d
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7
The Secretary of State, F25and the Inland Revenue may provide the Registrar with such information as he may request for the purposes of the register; and no obligation as to secrecy or confidentiality imposed by statute or otherwise on—
a
persons employed in the Department of Social Security, F26or
b
persons employed in relation to the Inland Revenue, F27...
F27c
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
shall prevent them from disclosing to the Registrar such information as is necessary for the purposes of the register.
F288
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158AF4Other disclosures by the Secretary of State.
1
The Secretary of State may, in spite of any obligation as to secrecy or confidentiality imposed by statute or otherwise on him or on persons employed in the Department of Social Security, disclose any information received by him in connection with his functions under this Act or the Pensions Act 1995 to any person specified in the first column of the following Table if he considers that the disclosure would enable or assist the person to discharge the functions specified in relation to the person in the second column of the Table.
Persons | Functions |
---|---|
The Treasury. | Functions under the Financial Services Act 1986. |
The Bank of England. | F47Any of its functions. |
F48The Financial Services Authority. | Functions under the Financial Services Act 1986 (other than as a designated agency within the meaning of that Act), the Banking Act 1987 or section 171 of the Companies Act 1989. |
The Regulatory Authority. | Functions under this Act or the Pensions Act 1995, or any enactment in force in Northern Ireland corresponding to either of them. |
The Pensions Compensation Board. | Functions under the Pensions Act 1995 or any corresponding enactment in force in Northern Ireland. |
The Friendly Societies Commission. | Functions under the enactments relating to friendly societies. |
The Building Societies Commission. | Functions under the Building Societies Act 1986. |
An inspector appointed by the Secretary of State. | Functions under section 94 or 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986. |
A person authorised to exercise powers under section 106 of the Financial Services Act 1986. | Functions under that section. |
A designated agency or transferee body or the competent authority (within the meaning of the Financial Services Act 1986). | Functions under the Financial Services Act 1986. |
A recognised self-regulating organisation, recognised professional body, recognised investment exchange or recognised clearing house (within the meaning of the Financial Services Act 1986). | Functions in its capacity as an organisation, body, exchange or clearing house recognised under the Financial Services Act 1986. |
2
The Secretary of State may by order—
a
amend the Table in subsection (1) by—
i
adding any person exercising regulatory functions and specifying functions in relation to that person,
ii
removing any person for the time being specified in the Table, or
iii
altering the functions for the time being specified in the Table in relation to any person, or
b
restrict the circumstances in which, or impose conditions subject to which, disclosure may be made to any person for the time being specified in the Table
Avoidance of certain transactions and provisions
I1C2C1159 Inalienability of guaranteed minimum pension and protected rights payments.
1
Where—
a
a person is entitled or prospectively entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension under an occupational pension scheme or to payments giving effect to protected rights under such a scheme; and
b
his entitlement is in respect of his or another person’s service in employment which was contracted-out by reference to that scheme;
then—
i
every assignment of or charge on that pension or those payments, and
ii
every agreement to assign or charge that pension or those payments,
shall be void.
2
In subsection (1), the references to assignments of and agreements to assign a guaranteed minimum pension do not include references to any assignment of or agreement to assign a policy of insurance or annuity contract in accordance with conditions prescribed by regulations under section 19(4)(b).
3
Subsection (1) has effect whether or not the assignment, charge or agreement was made at a time when the employment was contracted-out employment or the scheme was a contracted-out scheme in relation to the employment.
C3C44
Every assignment of or charge on and every agreement to assign or charge protected rights under a personal pension scheme or payments giving effect to such protected rights shall be void.
C4F294A
Where a person—
a
is entitled or prospectively entitled as is mentioned in subsection (1), or
b
is entitled to such rights or to such a payment as is mentioned in subsection (4),
no order shall be made by any court the effect of which would be that he would be restrained from receiving anything the assignment of which is or would be made void by either of those subsections.
4B
Subsection (4A) does not prevent the making of an attachment of earnings order under the Attachment of Earnings Act 1971.
5
On the bankruptcy of a person who—
a
is entitled or prospectively entitled as is mentioned in subsection (1), or
b
is entitled to such rights or to such a payment as is mentioned in subsection (4),
nothing shall pass to any trustee or other person acting on behalf of his creditors the assignment of which is or would be made void by either of those subsections.
6
In the application of this section to Scotland—
a
references to assignment shall be construed as references to assignation and “assign” shall be construed accordingly; and
b
the reference to a person’s bankruptcy shall be construed as a reference to the sequestration of his estate or the appointment on his estate of a judicial factor under section 41 of the M2Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980.
I1160 Terms of contracts of service or schemes restricting choice to be void.
1
Subject to such exceptions as may be prescribed—
a
any term of a contract of service (whenever made) or any rule of a personal or occupational pension scheme to the effect that an employed earner must be a member—
i
of a personal or occupational pension scheme,
ii
of a particular personal or occupational pension scheme, or
iii
of one or other of a number of particular personal or occupational pension schemes,
shall be void; and
b
any such term or rule to the effect that contributions shall be paid by or in respect of an employed earner—
i
to a particular personal or occupational pension scheme of which the earner is not a member, or
ii
to one or other of a number of personal or occupational pension schemes of none of which he is a member,
shall be unenforceable for so long as he is not a member of the scheme or any of the schemes.
2
Subsection (1) shall not be construed so as to have the effect that an employer is required, when he would not otherwise be—
a
to make contributions to a personal or occupational pension scheme; or
b
to increase an employed earner’s pay in lieu of making contributions to a personal or occupational pension scheme.
I1161 Provisions excluding Chapter II of Part VII to be void.
Any provision in an agreement (whether a contract of employment or not) shall be void in so far as it purports—
a
to exclude or limit the operation of any provision of Chapter II of Part VII of this Act; or
b
to preclude any person from presenting a complaint to, or bringing any proceedings before, an industrial tribunal under that Chapter.
I1162 Removal of restrictions on friendly societies’ pension business.
1
The Secretary of State may make such regulations as he thinks appropriate for enabling a friendly society to conduct group insurance business with a view to the establishment of occupational pension schemes or personal pension schemes.
2
The power to make regulations under this section shall extend to enabling friendly societies to conduct group insurance business freed from any restrictions of the relevant legislation as to the amounts which a member, or a person claiming through a member, is entitled to receive from any one or more societies or branches.
3
Regulations under this section may include such adaptations and modifications of the relevant legislation, and such other supplementary and incidental provisions, as the Secretary of State considers to be necessary or expedient for achieving the purposes referred to in subsection (1).
4
In this section—
a
b
“friendly society”, has the same meaning as in the Friendly Societies Act 1992; and
c
“group insurance business” means—
i
in relation to a registered friendly society, group insurance business within the meaning of section 65A of the Friendly Societies Act 1974, and
ii
in relation to an incorporated friendly society, group insurance business within the meaning of section 11 of the Friendly Societies Act 1992,
and in this paragraph “registered friendly society” and “incorporated friendly society” have the same meaning as in that Act of 1992.
I1163 Exemption of certain schemes from rule against perpetuities.
1
The rules of law relating to perpetuities shall not apply to the trusts of, or any disposition made under or for the purposes of a personal or occupational pension scheme at any time when this section applies to it.
2
This section applies to—
a
a public service pension scheme;
b
an occupational pension scheme which is a contracted-out scheme in relation to any employment;
c
a personal pension scheme which is an appropriate scheme; and
d
an occupational or personal pension scheme which satisfies prescribed requirements.
3
Subsection (1) applies whether the trusts or dispositions in question are created or made before or after this section first applies to the scheme, but this section does not validate with retrospective effect any trusts or dispositions which the rules of law relating to perpetuities (including, where applicable, section 3(1) of the M6Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 1964 (“wait and see”)) already require to be treated as void before this section applies to the scheme.
4
Regulations under subsection (2)(d) may require a scheme—
a
to contain provisions in any prescribed form, or to any prescribed effect; or
b
to have tax-exemption or tax-approval or to be such a scheme that it may be expected to qualify for tax-exemption or tax-approval.
5
Such regulations may be so framed that, in prescribed circumstances, the requirements can be treated as satisfied if application has been duly made to the Inland Revenue with a view to obtaining tax-approval for the scheme.
6
Regulations may include provision by which a scheme (other than a public service pension scheme) to which this section ceases to apply may nevertheless be treated as continuing to be a scheme to which it applies for a period of two years from its ceasing to be such a scheme, or for such longer period as the F11... F11Secretary of StateF11... F11considers to be reasonable in the case of a particular scheme.
7
If this section ceases to apply to a scheme, trusts created and dispositions made under it or for its purposes shall then again be subject to the rules of law relating to perpetuities as if this section had never applied to it.
8
Subsection (7) is without prejudice to any rights which vested while this section applied.
F19
Regulations may provide for a scheme, whose fund was registered under the M7Superannuation and other Trust Funds (Validation) Act 1927 immediately before the repeal of that Act took effect, to retain the benefit of that Act subject to prescribed conditions and either indefinitely or for a prescribed period.
Special classes of earner
I1164 Crown employment.
1
Subject to subsection (3), the following provisions shall apply to persons employed by or under the Crown in like manner as if such persons were employed by a private person—
a
Chapter I of Part IV and the other provisions of this Act, so far as they relate to the preservation requirements;
2
A person who is employed by or under the Crown shall be treated as an employed earner for the purposes of sections 7, 9, 26 to 34, 38, 43 to 45 (so far as they relate to personal pension schemes), section 48 (so far as it relates to minimum contributions), section 50 (so far as it relates to personal pension schemes), section 54, sections 55 to 64 (so far as they relate to personal pension protected rights premiums), section 111 (and Part VIII and section 153 so far as they have effect for the purposes of section 111), sections 117, 154 and 155 and section 159 (so far as it relates to protected rights payments) and sections 160 and 166.
3
So far as subsection (1) relates to the provisions within paragraph (b) of that subsection, it does not apply to a person who is serving as a member of Her Majesty’s forces.
4
Subject to subsections (3) and (5), a person who is serving as a member of Her Majesty’s forces shall, while he is so serving, be treated for the purposes of the provisions within subsection (1)(b) and those within subsection (2) (except for sections 154 and 166) as an employed earner in respect of his membership of those forces.
5
The Secretary of State may make regulations modifying sections 41, 42, 46(1), 47(2) and (5) and 48 in such manner as he thinks proper, in their application to persons who are or have been members of Her Majesty’s forces.
F56
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7
For the purposes of this section Her Majesty’s forces shall be taken to consist of such establishments and organisations as may be prescribed, being establishments and organisations in which persons serve under the control of the Defence Council.
I1165 Application of certain provisions to cases with foreign element.
1
Regulations may modify the provisions mentioned in subsection (2) in such manner as the Secretary of State thinks proper, in their application to any person who is, or has been, or is to be—
a
employed on board any ship, vessel, hovercraft or aircraft;
b
outside Great Britain at any prescribed time or in any prescribed circumstances; or
c
in prescribed employment in connection with continental shelf operations.
2
The provisions referred to in subsection (1) are—
a
F32Part III, section 111 (and Part VIII and section 153 so far as they have effect for the purposes of section 111), sections 117, 154 and 155 and section 159 (so far as it relates to protected rights payments) and sections 160 and 166; and
b
sections 41 and 42, subsections (1), (6) and (7) of section 46 (and subsection (8) of that section so far as it has effect for the purposes of those subsections), and sections 47(2) and (5) and 48.
3
Subject to subsection (4), regulations under subsection (1) may in particular provide—
a
for any of those provisions to apply to any such person, notwithstanding that it would not otherwise apply;
b
for any such provision not to apply to any such person, notwithstanding that it would otherwise apply;
c
for excepting any such person from the application of any such provision where he neither is domiciled nor has a place of residence in any part of Great Britain;
d
for the taking of evidence, for the purposes of the determination of any question arising under any such provision, in a country or territory outside Great Britain, by a British consular official or such other person as may be determined in accordance with regulations.
4
Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) does not apply as respects the application of the provisions mentioned in subsection (2)(b) and paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) of that subsection do not apply as respects the application of those provisions to such persons as are mentioned in paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (1).
5
Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1)(c), regulations made by virtue of that subsection as respects any provision mentioned in subsection (2)(b) may provide for that provision to apply to such a person as is mentioned in that subsection notwithstanding that he does not fall within the description of an employed or self-employed earner or does not fulfil conditions as to residence or presence in Great Britain.
6
Without prejudice to the generality of section 153(2)(c), regulations may modify Chapter I of Part IV in relation to schemes with any overseas element, that is to say, schemes established, or relating to employment, or with parties domiciled, resident or carrying on business, in any part of the world outside the United Kingdom, or otherwise not confined in their operation to the United Kingdom.
7
Chapter II of Part VII and section 157 do not apply—
a
to employment where under his contract of employment the employee ordinarily works outside the territory of the member States, or
b
to employment as master or as a member of the crew of a fishing vessel where the employee is remunerated only by a share in the profits or gross earnings of the vessel,
and sections 124 and 125 do not apply to employment as a merchant seaman, but F6section 201 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (power to extend employment protection legislation) applies to Chapter II of Part VII and section 157 as it does to the provisions of that Act.
8
In this section—
“continental shelf operations” means any activities which, if paragraphs (a) and (d) of F49subsection (8) of section 11 of the Petroleum Act 1998 (application of civil law to certain off-shore activities) were omitted, would nevertheless fall within subsection (2) of that section; and
“employment as a merchant seaman” has the meaning given in F7section 199(5) of the Employment Rights Act 1996.
Reciprocity with other countries
I1166 Reciprocity with other countries.
1
For the purpose of giving effect—
a
to any agreement with the government of a country outside the United Kingdom providing for reciprocity in matters relating to payments for purposes similar or comparable to the purposes of this Act, or
b
to any such agreement as it would be if it were altered in accordance with proposals to alter it which, in consequence of any change in the law of Great Britain, the government of the United Kingdom has made to the other government in question,
Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision for modifying or adapting this Act in its application to cases affected by the agreement or proposed alterations.
2
An Order in Council made by virtue of subsection (1) may, instead of or in addition to making specific modifications or adaptations, provide generally that this Act shall be modified to such extent as may be required to give effect to the provisions contained in the agreement or, as the case may be, alterations in question.
3
The modifications of this Act which may be made by virtue of subsection (1) include provision—
a
for securing that acts, omissions and events having effect for the purposes of the law of the country in respect of which the agreement is made have a corresponding effect for the purposes of this Act (but not so as to confer a right to a double benefit);
b
for determining in cases where rights accrue both under this Act and under the law of that country, which of those rights is to be available to the person concerned; and
c
for making any necessary financial adjustments.
4
An Order in Council made by virtue of subsection (1) which modifies or adapts any of the provisions referred to in section 164 may, in particular, provide for the Secretary of State to make payments for any period beginning on or after 6th April 1987 and may make provision with respect to any matters relating to payments so made.
5
Application of provisions relating to social security administration
I1167 Application of general provisions relating to administration of social security.
1
The M8Social Security Administration Act 1992 shall apply as if references to that Act in the provisions mentioned in subsection (2) included references to the provisions referred to in section 164(1)(b) of this Act (in this section referred to as “the relevant provisions”).
2
The provisions referred to in subsection (1) are the following provisions of the M8Social Security Administration Act 1992—
section 116 (legal proceedings)
section 125 (regulations as to notification of deaths)
section 177 (co-ordination with Northern Ireland)
section 180 (payment of travelling expenses by the Secretary of State).
3
Section 58 of that Act (regulations as to determination of questions and matters arising out of, or pending, reviews and appeals) shall apply to the relevant provisions as it applies to the M9Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992.
4
The references in section 59(2)(a) of the M8 Social Security Administration Act 1992 (procedure regulations) and in section 61(1)(a) of that Act (regulations as to matters arising pending determinations) to Parts II to IV of the M9Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 and to Part I of that Act shall be taken respectively to include a reference to section 46 and a reference to sections 41 and 42 of this Act.
5
Section 124 of the M8Social Security Administration Act 1992 (provisions relating to age, death and marriage) shall apply as if the information mentioned in subsection (1) of that section included information for the purposes of the relevant provisions.
6
Section 121 of the M9Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (treatment of certain marriages) shall apply to the relevant provisions.
General provisions as to offences
I1168 Breach of regulations.
F10Regulations under any provision of this Act (other than Chapter II of Part VII) may provide for the contravention of, or failure to comply with any provision contained in regulations under any such provision to be an offence under this Act and for the recovery on summary conviction for any such offence of penalties not exceeding—
a
for any one offence, level 3 on the standard scale; or
b
for an offence of continuing any such contravention or failure after conviction, £40 for each day on which it is so continued.
F101
Regulations under any provision of this Act (other than Chapter II of Part VII) may make such provision as is referred to in subsection (2) or (4) for the contravention of any provision contained in regulations made or having effect as if made under any provision of this Act.
2
The regulations may provide for the contravention to be an offence under this Act and for the recovery on summary conviction of a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
3
An offence under any provision of the regulations may be charged by reference to any day or longer period of time; and a person may be convicted of a second or subsequent offence under such a provision by reference to any period of time following the preceding conviction of the offence.
4
The regulations may provide for a person who has contravened the provision to pay to the Regulatory Authority, within a prescribed period, a penalty not exceeding an amount specified in the regulations; and the regulations must specify different amounts in the case of individuals from those specified in other cases and any amount so specified may not exceed the amount for the time being specified in the case of individuals or, as the case may be, others in section 10(2)(a) of the Pensions Act 1995.
5
Regulations made by virtue of subsection (4) do not affect the amount of any penalty recoverable under that subsection by reason of an act or omission occurring before the regulations are made.
6
Where—
a
apart from this subsection, a penalty under subsection (4) is recoverable from a body corporate or Scottish partnership by reason of any act or omission of the body or partnership as a trustee of a trust scheme, and
b
the act or omission was done with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any persons mentioned in subsection (7),
such a penalty is recoverable from each of those persons who consented to or connived in the act or omission or to whose neglect the act or omission was attributable.
7
The persons referred to in subsection (6)(b)—
a
in relation to a body corporate, are—
i
any director, manager, secretary, or other similar officer of the body, or a person purporting to act in any such capacity, and
ii
where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, any member in connection with his functions of management, and
b
in relation to a Scottish partnership, are the partners.
8
Where the Regulatory Authority requires any person to pay a penalty by virtue of subsection (6), they may not also require the body corporate, or Scottish partnership, in question to pay a penalty in respect of the same act or omission.
9
A penalty under subsection (4) is recoverable by the Authority and any such penalty recovered by the Authority must be paid to the Secretary of State.
10
Where by reason of the contravention of any provision contained in regulations made, or having effect as if made, under this Act—
a
a person is convicted of an offence under this Act, or
b
a person pays a penalty under subsection (4),
then, in respect of that contravention, he shall not, in a case within paragraph (a), be liable to pay such a penalty or, in a case within paragraph (b), be convicted of such an offence.
11
In this section “contravention” includes failure to comply, and “Scottish partnership” means a partnership constituted under the law of Scotland.
168AOffence in connection with the Registrar
1
Any person who knowingly or recklessly provides the Registrar with information which is false or misleading in a material particular is guilty of an offence if the information—
a
is provided in purported compliance with a requirement under section 6, or
b
is provided otherwise than as mentioned in paragraph (a) above but in circumstances in which the person providing the information intends, or could reasonably be expected to know, that it would be used by the Registrar for the purpose of discharging his functions under this Act.
2
Any person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable—
a
on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum,
b
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment or a fine, or both
I1169 Offences by bodies corporate.
1
Where an offence under this Act which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, he as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of that offence and be liable to be proceeded against accordingly.
2
Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (1) applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as if he were a director of the body corporate.
General provisions as to determinations and appeals
I1170 Determination of questions by Secretary of State.
1
The questions to which section 17(1) of the M10Social Security Administration Act 1992 (questions for determination by the Secretary of State) applies include—
a
any question as to the amount of a person’s guaranteed minimum for the purposes of section 13 or 17;
b
any question—
i
whether a F35contributions equivalent premium is payable or has been paid in any case or as to the amount of any such premium; or
ii
otherwise arising in connection with any F35contributions equivalent premium;
c
any question whether for the purposes of this Act a cash sum paid or an alternative arrangement made under the M11Policyholders Protection Act 1975 provides the whole or any part of the guaranteed minimum pension to which an earner or an earner’s widow or widower was entitled under a contracted-out scheme; F38...
d
e
any question whether an employment is, or is to be treated, for the purposes of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 as contracted-out employment or as to the persons in relation to whom, or the period for which, an employment is, or is to be treated, for the purposes of that Act as such employment.
2
The Secretary of State may make any determination required by subsection (1)(c) on such basis as he considers appropriate.
F373
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F374
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F35
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F36
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F157
Sections 18 and 19 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (appeals and reviews) shall have effect as if the questions mentioned in subsection (1) of section 17 of that Act included—
a
any question arising in connection with the issue, cancellation or variation of contracting-out certificates or appropriate scheme certificates, not being a question mentioned in subsection (1)(e) above, and
b
any other question arising under this Act which falls to be determined by the Secretary of State, not being a question mentioned in that subsection.
8
Regulations may make provision with respect to the procedure to be adopted on any application for a review made under section 19 of that Act by virtue of subsection (7) above and generally with respect to such applications and reviews, but may not prevent such a review being entered upon without an application being made
I1171 Questions arising in proceedings.
1
Where in any proceedings—
a
for an offence under this Act; or
b
involving any question as to the payment of a F39contributions equivalent premium;
any such question arises as is mentioned in section 170(1)(a), (b)(i) or (c), the decision of the Secretary of State shall be conclusive for the purpose of the proceedings.
2
If—
a
a decision on any such question is necessary for the determination of the proceedings; and
b
the decision of the Secretary of State has not been obtained or a question has been raised with a view to a review of the decision obtained,
the question shall be referred to the Secretary of State for determination or review in accordance (subject to any necessary modifications) with sections 17 to 19 of the M13Social Security Administration Act 1992.
3
Subsection (1) does not apply if—
a
an appeal under section 18 of that Act is pending; or
b
the time for appealing has not expired; or
c
a question has been raised with a view to a review of the Secretary of State’s decision under section 19 of that Act,
and the court dealing with the case shall adjourn the proceedings until such time as a final decision on the question has been obtained.
F40E1I1172 Review of the Board’s determinations.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F41I1173 References and appeals from the Board.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Financial provisions
I1174 Grants by the Board to advisory bodies etc.
1
The F9Regulatory Authority may make grants on such terms and conditions as they think fit to any person or body of persons providing advice or assistance, or carrying out other prescribed functions, in connection with occupational or personal pensions.
2
The Secretary of State may pay the F9Regulatory Authority such sums as he may think fit towards any expenditure of theirs in making grants under this section.
I1175F8...F8Levies towards certain expenditure
F8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F81
For the purpose of meeting expenditure—
a
under section 6,
b
under Part X and section 174, or
c
of the Regulatory Authority (including the establishment of the authority and, if the authority are appointed as Registrar under section 6 of this Act, their expenditure as Registrar),
regulations may make provision for imposing levies in respect of prescribed occupational or prescribed personal pension schemes.
2
Any levy imposed under subsection (1) is payable to the Secretary of State by or on behalf of—
a
the administrators of any prescribed public service pension scheme,
b
the trustees or managers of any other prescribed occupational or prescribed personal pension scheme, or
c
any other prescribed person,
at prescribed rates and at prescribed times.
3
Regulations made by virtue of subsection (1)—
a
in determining the amount of any levy in respect of the Regulatory Authority, must take account (among other things) of any amounts paid to the Secretary of State under section 168(4) of this Act or section 10 of the Pensions Act 1995, and
b
in determining the amount of expenditure in respect of which any levy is to be imposed, may take one year with another and, accordingly, may have regard to expenditure estimated to be incurred in current or future periods and to actual expenditure incurred in previous periods (including periods ending before the coming into force of this subsection).
4
Regulations may make provision for imposing a levy in respect of prescribed occupational pension schemes for the purpose of meeting expenditure of the Pensions Compensation Board (including the establishment of the Board).
5
Any levy imposed under subsection (4) is payable to the Board by or on behalf of—
a
the trustees of any prescribed occupational pension scheme, or
b
any other prescribed person,
at prescribed times and at a rate, not exceeding the prescribed rate, determined by the Board.
6
In determining the amount of expenditure in respect of which any levy under subsection (4) is to be imposed, the Board, and regulations made by virtue of subsection (5), may take one year with another and, accordingly, may have regard to expenditure estimated to be incurred in current or future periods and to actual expenditure incurred in previous periods (including periods ending before the coming into force of this subsection).
7
Notice of the rates determined by the Board under subsection (5) must be given to prescribed persons in the prescribed manner.
8
An amount payable by a person on account of a levy imposed under this section shall be a debt due from him to the appropriate person, that is—
a
if the levy is imposed under subsection (1), the Secretary of State, and
b
if the levy is imposed under subsection (4), the Board,
and an amount so payable shall be recoverable by the appropriate person accordingly or, if the appropriate person so determines, be recoverable by the Registrar on behalf of the appropriate person.
9
Without prejudice to the generality of subsections (1) and (4), regulations under this section may include provision relating to—
a
the collection and recovery of amounts payable by way of levy under this section, or
b
the circumstances in which any such amount may be waived.
I1176 Fees for official services to schemes.
Where at the request of the trustees or managers of an occupational pension scheme or a personal pension scheme or of any employer of earners who are members of such a scheme, official services are provided in connection with the operation or administration of the scheme F42by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State may require the payment of fees for the provision of those services.
I1177 General financial arrangements.
1
Subject to the following provisions of this section, all expenses incurred by the Secretary of State under this Act shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament except so far as they may be required by any enactment to be paid or borne in some other way.
2
There shall be paid out of the National Insurance Fund—
a
minimum contributions paid by the Secretary of State under section 43;
b
payments by him under section 124.
3
Subject to subsection (4), there shall be paid out of the National Insurance Fund into the Consolidated Fund—
a
sums equal to the amount of any expenses incurred by the Secretary of State (or by persons acting on his behalf) in exercising his functions under Chapter II of Part VII and section 157;
b
such sums as the Secretary of State may estimate to be the amount of the administrative expenses of the Secretary of State or any government department in carrying into effect the remaining provisions of this Act, other than—
i
ii
sections 7, 9, 26 to 34, 38 and 50 (so far as they relate to personal pension schemes), section 54, F45... section 111 (and Part VIII and section 153 so far as they have effect for the purposes of section 111), sections 117, 154 and 155 and section 159 (so far as it relates to protected rights payments) and sections 160 and 166.
4
The sums payable under subsection (3)(b)—
a
shall be estimated in accordance with any directions given by the Treasury and (except in the case of functions relating to minimum contributions) shall exclude such categories of expenses as the Treasury may direct, or any enactment may require, to be so excluded; and
b
shall be payable at such times and in such manner as the Treasury may direct.
5
There shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund—
a
subject to subsection (6), so far as it relates to payments out of money provided by Parliament, any sum recovered by the Secretary of State under or by virtue of the provisions within subsection (3)(b)(ii); and
b
all fees paid to the Registrar.
6
So far as any such sum relates to a payment out of the National Insurance Fund, it shall be paid into that Fund.
7
There shall also be paid into the National Insurance Fund—
a
sums recovered under section 43(5) or (6);
F43b
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
c
any sum recovered by the Secretary of State in exercising any right or pursuing any remedy which is his by virtue of section 127; and
d
any sums received by him by way of such payments as are mentioned in paragraph 5(4) of Schedule 2.