Part IIIE+W+S Certification of Pension Schemes and Effects on Members’ State Scheme Rights and Duties

Chapter IE+W+S Certification

Alteration of scheme rules after certificationE+W+S

38 Alteration of rules of [F1appropriate schemes][F1personal pension schemes].E+W+S

(1)[F2Where an appropriate scheme certificate has been issued, no alteration of the rules of the relevant scheme shall be made so as—

(a)to affect any of the matters dealt with in sections 26 to 33; or

(b)to cause the scheme to take a different permitted form from that previously taken,

F3...

F3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[F2No alteration of the rules of a personal pension scheme which was an appropriate scheme shall be made so as—

(a)to affect any of the matters dealt with in sections 26 to 33; or

(b)to cause the scheme to take a different permitted form from that previously taken.]

(2)Subsection (1) does not apply

[F4(a)]to an alteration of a prescribed description[F5; or

(b)where the rules of the relevant scheme are altered to make provision for pensions for surviving civil partners].

(3)Subject to subsection (4), any alteration to which subsection (1) applies shall be voidF6... .

(4)[F7Regulations made by virtue of subsection (2) may] operate so as to validate with retrospective effect any alteration of the rules which would otherwise be void under this section.

(5)[F8This section shall continue in force in relation to a scheme after it has ceased to be an appropriate scheme so long as any person has protected rights under the scheme.]

[F8This section has effect in relation to a personal pension scheme for so long as there are persons who have protected rights under the scheme or who are entitled to any benefit giving effect to such rights under it.]

(6)The reference in subsection (1)(b) to a permitted form is to one of the following forms, namely—

(a)an arrangement for the issue of insurance policies or annuity contracts;

(b)a unit trust scheme of a kind mentioned in Part I of Schedule 1 to the M1Personal Pension Schemes (Appropriate Schemes) Regulations 1988 which [F9is an authorised unit trust scheme];

(c)an arrangement for the investment of contributions in an interest-bearing account (including shares in or deposits with a building society (within the meaning of the M2Building Societies Act 1986));

[F10(d)an open-ended investment company within the meaning of the Open-Ended Investment Companies Regulations 2001.]

[F11(6A)“Authorised unit trust scheme” has the meaning given in Part 17 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and includes any scheme which is, as a result of an order made under section 426 of that Act making transitional provisions, treated as falling within that meaning.]

F12(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 38 sidenote substituted (26.9.2007 for specified purposes) by Pensions Act 2007 (c. 22), ss. 15(4), 30(2)(b)(3), Sch. 4 para. 16(4) (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3)

F2S. 38(1) substituted (26.9.2007 for specified purposes) by Pensions Act 2007 (c. 22), ss. 15(4), 30(2)(b)(3), Sch. 4 para. 16(2) (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3)

F3Words in s. 38(1) repealed (6.4.1997) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), s. 180(1), Sch. 5 para. 40(a), Sch. 7 Pt. III; S.I. 1997/664, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. 2

F6Words in s. 38(3) repealed (6.4.1997) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), s. 180(1), Sch. 5 para. 40(b), Sch. 7 Pt. III; S.I. 1997/664, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. 2

F7Words in s. 38(4) substituted (6.4.1997) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), s. 180(1), Sch. 5 para. 40(c); S.I. 1997/664, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. 2

F8S. 38(5) substituted (26.9.2007 for specified purposes) by Pensions Act 2007 (c. 22), ss. 15(4), 30(2)(b)(3), Sch. 4 para. 16(3) (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3)

F12S. 38(7) repealed (6.4.1997) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), s. 180(1), Sch. 5 para. 40(d), Sch. 7 Pt. III; S.I. 1997/664, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. 2

Commencement Information

I1Ss. 1-187 in force at 7.2.1994 by S.I. 1994/86, art. 2

Marginal Citations