Scotland Act 1998

Head F – Social Security U.K.

F1. Social security schemes U.K.

Section F1.

Schemes supported from central or local funds which provide assistance for social security purposes to or in respect of individuals by way of benefits.

• Requiring persons to—

  (a)

  establish and administer schemes providing assistance for social security purposes to or in respect of individuals, or

  (b)

  make payments to or in respect of such schemes,

  and to keep records and supply information in connection with such schemes.

• The circumstances in which a person is liable to maintain himself or another for the purposes of the enactments relating to social security and the Child Support Acts 1991 and 1995.

• The subject-matter of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.

Illustrations

National Insurance; Social Fund; administration and funding of housing benefit and council tax benefit; recovery of benefits for accident, injury or disease from persons paying damages; deductions from benefits for the purpose of meeting an individual’s debts; sharing information between government departments for the purposes of the enactments relating to social security; making decisions for the purposes of schemes mentioned in the reservation and appeals against such decisions.

Exceptions

The subject-matter of Part II of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (social welfare services), section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (provision of welfare services), section 50 of the Children Act 1975 (payments towards maintenance of children), section 15 of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 (industrial injuries benefit), and sections 22 (promotion of welfare of children in need), 29 and 30 (advice and assistance for young persons formerly looked after by local authorities) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

Interpretation

• “Benefits” includes pensions, allowances, grants, loans and any other form of financial assistance.

• Providing assistance for social security purposes to or in respect of individuals includes (among other things) providing assistance to or in respect of individuals—

  (a)

  who qualify by reason of old age, survivorship, disability, sickness, incapacity, injury, unemployment, maternity or the care of children or others needing care,

  (b)

  who qualify by reason of low income, or

  (c)

  in relation to their housing costs or liabilities for local taxes.

F2. Child support U.K.

Section F2.

The subject-matter of the Child Support Acts 1991 and 1995.

Exception

The subject-matter of sections 1 to 7 of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985 (aliment).

Interpretation

If section 30(2) of the Child Support Act 1991 (collection of payments other than child support maintenance) is not in force on the principal appointed day, it is to be treated for the purposes of this reservation as if it were.

F3. Occupational and personal pensions U.K.

Section F3.

• The regulation of occupational pension schemes and personal pension schemes, including the obligations of the trustees or managers of such schemes.

• Provision about pensions payable to, or in respect of, any persons, except—

  (a)

  the persons referred to in section 81(3),

  (b)

  in relation to a Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions, persons who are or have been a member of the public body, the holder of the public office, or a member of the staff of the body, holder or office.

• The subject-matter of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971.

• Schemes for the payment of pensions which are listed in Schedule 2 to that Act, except those mentioned in paragraphs 38A and 38AB.

• Where pension payable to or in respect of any class of persons under a public service pension scheme is covered by this reservation, so is making provision in their case—

  (a)

  for compensation for loss of office or employment, for their office or employment being affected by constitutional changes, or circumstances arising from such changes, in any territory or territories or for loss or diminution of emoluments, or

  (b)

  for benefits in respect of death or incapacity resulting from injury or disease.

Interpretation

“Pension” includes gratuities and allowances.

F4. War pensions U.K.

Section F4.

• Schemes for the payment of pensions for or in respect of persons who have a disablement or have died in consequence of service as members of the armed forces of the Crown.

• The subject-matter of any scheme under the Personal Injuries (Emergency Provisions) Act 1939, sections 3 to 5 and 7 of the Pensions (Navy, Army, Air Force and Mercantile Marine) Act 1939 or section 1 of the Polish Resettlement Act 1947

Illustration

The provision of pensions under the Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 1983.

Interpretation

“Pension” includes grants, allowances, supplements and gratuities.