(1)Where—
(a)a person is entitled or prospectively entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension under an occupational pension scheme F2... ; 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 F3... , and
(ii)every agreement to assign or charge that pension F3... ,
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.
F4(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[F5(4A)Where a person is entitled or prospectively entitled as is mentioned in subsection (1), 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 that subsection.]
[F6(4B)Subsection (4A) does not prevent the making of an attachment of earnings order under the Attachment of Earnings Act 1971.]
F7(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(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 M1Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 159 sidenote omitted (6.4.2012) by virtue of The Pensions Act 2008 (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Amendments) (No.2) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1730), arts. 1(2)(b), 5(17)(a) (as amended by S.I. 2012/709, arts. 1(2), 2(4))
F2Words in s. 159(1)(a) omitted (6.4.2012) by virtue of The Pensions Act 2008 (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Amendments) (No.2) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1730), arts. 1(2)(b), 5(17)(b) (as amended by S.I. 2012/709, arts. 1(2), 2(4))
F3Words in s. 159(1) omitted (6.4.2012) by virtue of The Pensions Act 2008 (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Amendments) (No.2) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1730), arts. 1(2)(b), 5(17)(c) (as amended by S.I. 2012/709, arts. 1(2), 2(4))
F4S. 159(4) omitted (6.4.2012) by virtue of The Pensions Act 2008 (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Amendments) (No.2) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1730), arts. 1(2)(b), 5(17)(d) (as amended by S.I. 2012/709, arts. 1(2), 2(4))
F5S. 159(4A) substituted (6.4.2012) by The Pensions Act 2008 (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Amendments) (No.2) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1730), arts. 1(2)(b), 5(17)(e) (as amended by S.I. 2012/709, arts. 1(2), 2(4))
F6S. 159(4A)(4B) inserted (6.4.1997) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), s. 180(1), Sch. 3 para. 41; S.I. 1997/664, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. 2
F7S. 159(5) repealed (6.4.2002) by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), s. 89(1), Sch. 13 Pt. I; S.I. 2002/153, art. 2(l)(i)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 159 excluded by 1985 c. 66, s. 36C(1) (as inserted (6.4.1996 for specified purposes) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), ss. 95(2), 180(1) (with s. 121(5)); S.I. 1996/778, art. 2(5)(a), Sch. Pt. 5)
C2S. 159 excluded by Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45), s. 342C(1) (as inserted (6.4.1996 for specified purposes) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), ss. 95(1), 180(1) (with s. 121(5)); S.I. 1996/778, art. 2(5)(a), Sch. Pt. 5)
C3S. 159 excluded (11.11.1999 for specified purposes, 6.4.2002 in so far as not already in force) by Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45), s. 342C(2) (as substituted by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), ss. 15, 89(5)(a); S.I. 2002/153, art. 2(e))
C4S. 159 excluded (11.11.1999 for specified purposes, 6.4.2002 in so far as not already in force) by 1985 c. 66, s. 36C(2) (as substituted by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), ss. 16, 89(5)(a); S.I. 2002/153, art. 2(f))
C5S. 159 excluded (26.3.2002 for specified purposes, 6.4.2002 in so far as not already in force) by 1985 c. 66, s. 36F(2)(a) (as inserted by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), s. 89(1), Sch. 12 para. 69; S.I. 2002/818, art. 3(b))
C6S. 159 excluded (26.3.2002 for specified purposes, 6.4.2002 in so far as not already in force) by Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45), s. 342F(5)(a) (as inserted by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), s. 89(1), Sch. 12 para. 71; S.I. 2002/818, art. 3(b))
C7S. 159 excluded (24.2.2003) by Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29), ss. 273(5)(a), 458(1); S.I. 2003/120, art. 2, Sch. (with arts. 3, 4) (as amended (20.2.2003) by S.I. 2003/333, art. 14)
C8S. 159 excluded (1.1.2006) by The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Requests and Orders) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3181), arts. 1, 184(5)(a)
C9S. 159(4)(4A) excluded (1.8.1996) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), ss. 166, 180(1); S.I. 1996/1675, art. 3(b)
C10S. 159(4)(4A) excluded (11.11.1999 for specified purposes, 1.12.2000 in so far as not already in force) by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), ss. 44(1), 89(5)(a); S.I. 2000/1047, art. 2(2)(d), Sch. Pt. 4
Commencement Information
I1Ss. 1-187 in force at 7.2.1994 by S.I. 1994/86, art. 2
Marginal Citations