Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993

95 Trustees’ duties after exercise of option. N.I.

(1) Where—

(a) a member has exercised the option conferred by section 91; and

(b) the trustees or managers of the scheme have done what is needed to carry out what the member requires,

the trustees or managers shall be discharged from any obligation to provide benefits to which the cash equivalent related except, in such cases as are mentioned in section 92(2), to the extent that an obligation to provide such guaranteed minimum pensions or give effect to such protected rights continues to subsist.

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, if the trustees or managers of a scheme receive an application under section 91, they shall do what is needed to carry out what the member requires—

(a) within 12 months of the date on which they receive the application; or

(b) in the case of a member of an occupational pension scheme, by the date on which the member attains normal pension age if that is earlier.

(3) If—

(a) disciplinary proceedings or proceedings before a court have been begun against a member of an occupational pension scheme at any time before the expiry of the period of 12 months beginning with the termination date; and

(b) it appears to the trustees or managers of the scheme that the proceedings may lead to the whole or part of the pension or benefit in lieu of a pension payable to the member or his widow being forfeited; and

(c) the date before which they would (apart from this subsection) be obliged under subsection (2) to carry out what the member requires is earlier than the end of the period of 3 months after the conclusion of the disciplinary or court proceedings (including any proceedings on appeal),

then, subject to the following provisions of this section, they must instead do so before the end of that period of 3 months.

[F1 (4) The Regulatory Authority may, in prescribed circumstances, grant an extension of the period within which the trustees or managers of the scheme are obliged to do what is needed to carry out what a member of the scheme requires.

(4A) Regulations may make provision in relation to applications for extensions under subsection (4).]

(6) If the Board are satisfied—

(a) that there has been a relevant change of circumstances since they granted an extension, or

(b) that they granted an extension in ignorance of a material fact or on the basis of a mistake as to a material fact,

they may direct that the extension be shortened or revoke it.

[F2 (7) Where the trustees or managers of an occupational pension scheme have not done what is needed to carry out what a member of the scheme requires within 6 months of the date mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (2)—

(a) they must, except in prescribed cases, notify the Regulatory Authority of that fact within the prescribed period, and

(b) Article 10 of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (power of the Regulatory Authority to impose civil penalties) shall apply to any trustee or manager who has failed to take all such steps as are reasonable to ensure that it was so done.

(8) Regulations may provide that in prescribed circumstances subsection (7) shall not apply in relation to an occupational pension scheme.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 95(4)(4A) substituted (6.4.1996 for certain purposes otherwiseprosp.) for s. 95(4)(5) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 1(2),165, Sch. 4 para. 8(c); S.R. 1996/91, art. 2(d), Sch. Pt. IV; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F2 S. 95(7)(8) added (6.4.1996 for certain purposes otherwiseprosp.) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 1(2), 165, Sch. 4 para. 8(e); S.R. 1996/91, art. 2(d), Sch. Pt. IV; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 95 modified (28.3.1997) by S.R. 1997/192, art. 5 (with art. 9)