Pension Schemes Act 1993

7 Issue of contracting-out and appropriate scheme certificates. E+W+S

(1) Regulations shall provide for the F1 ... [F2 Inland Revenue] to issue certificates stating—

(a) that the employment of an earner in employed earner’s employment is contracted-out employment by reference to an occupational pension scheme; or

(b) that a personal pension scheme is an appropriate scheme;

and in this Act a certificate under paragraph (a) is referred to as “a contracting-out certificate” and a certificate under paragraph (b) as “an appropriate scheme certificate”.

(2) The regulations shall provide for contracting-out certificates to be issued to employers and to specify—

(a) the employments which are to be treated, either generally or in relation to any specified description of earners, as contracted-out employments; and

(b) the occupational pension schemes by reference to which those employments are to be so treated.

[F3 (2A) The regulations may provide, in the case of contracting-out certificates issued before the principal appointed day, for their cancellation by virtue of the regulations—

(a) at the end of a prescribed period beginning with that day, or

(b) if prescribed conditions are not satisfied at any time in that period,

but for them to continue to have effect until so cancelled; and the regulations may provide that a certificate having effect on and after that day by virtue of this subsection is to have effect, in relation to any earner’s service on or after that day, as if issued on or after that day.

(2B) In this Part, “the principal appointed day” means the day designated by an order under section 180 of the Pensions Act 1995 as the principal appointed day for the purposes of Part III of that Act]

(3) An occupational pension scheme is a contracted-out scheme in relation to an earner’s employment if it is for the time being specified in a contracting-out certificate in relation to that employment; and references in this Act to the contracting-out of a scheme are references to its inclusion in such a certificate.

(4) A personal pension scheme is an appropriate scheme if there is in force an appropriate scheme certificate issued F4 ... in accordance with this Chapter that it is such a scheme.

(5) An appropriate scheme certificate for the time being in force in relation to a scheme shall be conclusive that the scheme is an appropriate scheme.

(6) Regulations shall provide that any question whether a personal pension scheme is or at any time was an appropriate scheme shall be determined by the [F5 Inland Revenue].

(7) Except in prescribed circumstances, no contracting-out certificate or appropriate scheme certificate shall have effect from a date earlier than that on which the certificate is issued.

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in s. 7(1) substituted (6.4.1996 for specified purposes, 6.4.1997 in so far as not already in force) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), s. 180(1), Sch. 5 para. 22(a); S.I. 1996/778, art. 2(5)(a), Sch. Pt. 5; S.I. 1997/664, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. 2

F2 Words in s. 7(1) substituted (25.2.1999 for specified purposes, 1.4.1999 in so far as not already in force) by Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2), s. 28(2)(a), Sch. 1 para. 33; S.I. 1999/527, art. 2(b), Sch. 2 (with arts. 3-6)

F3 S. 7(2A)(2B) inserted (6.4.1996 for specified purposes, 6.4.1997 in so far as not already in force) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), ss. 136(1), 180(1); S.I. 1996/778, art. 2(5)(a)(7), Sch. Pt. 5

F4 Words in s. 7(4) repealed (6.4.1997) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), s. 180(1), Sch. 5 para. 22(b), Sch. 7 Pt. III; S.I. 1997/664, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. 2

F5 Words in s. 7(6) substituted (25.2.1999 for specified purposes, 1.4.1999 in so far as not already in force) by Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2), s. 28(2)(a), Sch. 1 para. 33; S.I. 1999/527, art. 2(b), Sch. 2 (with arts. 3-6)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. III applied (with modifications) (6.4.1997) by The Occupational Pension Schemes (Mixed Benefit Contracted-out Schemes) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1977), regs. 1(1), 2(4)(a)-(f)

C2 Pt. III applied (with modifications) (6.4.1997) by The Contracting-out (Transfer and Transfer Payment) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1462), regs. 1(1), 12, 13, Sch. 2 (with reg. 14, Sch. 4)

C3 Pt. III: power to modify conferred (1.6.1996 for specified purposes, 6.4.1997 in so far as not already in force) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), ss. 149(1), 180(1); S.I. 1996/778, art. 2(6); S.I. 1997/664, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. 2

C4 Pt. III: power to amend conferred (1.4.1999) by Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2), ss. 23, 28(3); S.I. 1999/527, art. 2(b), Sch. 2 (with arts. 3-6)

C5 Pt. III: power to transfer functions conferred (1.4.1999) by Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2), ss. 23, 28(3); S.I. 1999/527, art. 2(b), Sch. 2 (with arts. 3-6)

C6 S. 7(1)(a) extended (6.4.1997) by Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1172), regs. 1(1), 12(3), 13(2), 14

C7 S. 7(2) extended (6.4.1997) by Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1172), regs. 1(1), 12(3), 13(2), 14

C8 S. 7(7) extended (6.4.1997) by Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1172), regs. 1(1), 12(3), 13(2), 14

Commencement Information

I1 Ss. 1-187 in force at 7.2.1994 by S.I. 1994/86, art. 2