Pensions Act 2004

318 General interpretation U.K.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

• “active member” has the meaning given by section 124(1) of the Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26);

• “the Board” has the meaning given by section 107;

• “contravention” includes failure to comply;

• “direct payment arrangements”, in relation to a personal pension scheme, has the same meaning as in section 111A of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48);

• “earnings” has the meaning given by section 181(1) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993;

• “employee” has the meaning given by section 181(1) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993;

• “employer”—

  (a)

  in relation to an occupational pension scheme, means the employer of persons in the description of employment to which the scheme in question relates (but see subsection (4)), and

  (b)

  in relation to a personal pension scheme, where direct payment arrangements exist in respect of one or more members of the scheme who are employees, means an employer with whom those arrangements exist;

• “enactment” includes an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30));

• “managers”, in relation to an occupational or personal pension scheme (other than a scheme established under a trust), means the persons responsible for the management of the scheme;

• “member”, in relation to an occupational pension scheme, means any active, deferred, pensioner or pension credit member within the meaning of section 124(1) of the Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26) (but see subsection (5));

• “modifications” includes additions, omissions and amendments, and related expressions are to be construed accordingly;

• “money purchase benefit” has the meaning given by section 181(1) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48);

• “money purchase scheme” has the meaning given by section 181(1) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993;

• “occupational pension scheme” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993;

• [F1 “ pension board ” has the meaning given by section 124(1) of the Pensions Act 1995;]

• “pension credit” has the meaning given by section 124(1) of the Pensions Act 1995;

• “personal pension scheme” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993;

• “the PPF Ombudsman” has the meaning given by section 209(1);

• “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations;

• “professional adviser”, in relation to an occupational pension scheme, has the meaning given by section 47 of the Pensions Act 1995;

• [F2 " public service pension scheme ” means, subject to subsection (6)—

  (a)

  a scheme under section 1 of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 (new public service schemes);

  (b)

  a new public body pension scheme (within the meaning of that Act);

  (c)

  any statutory pension scheme which is connected with a scheme referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) (and for this purpose “statutory pension scheme” and “connected” have the meanings given in that Act);]

• “the register” has the meaning given by section 59(1);

• “regulations” means regulations made by the Secretary of State;

• “the Regulator” has the meaning given by section 1;

• [F3 “ scheme manager ”, in relation to a public service pension scheme, has the same meaning as in the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 (see section 4 of that Act);]

• F4 ...

(2) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, references to the scheme rules, in relation to [F5 a pension scheme] , are references to—

(a) the rules of the scheme, except so far as overridden by a relevant legislative provision,

(b) the relevant legislative provisions, to the extent that they have effect in relation to the scheme and are not reflected in the rules of the scheme, and

(c) any provision which the rules of the scheme do not contain but which the scheme must contain if it is to conform with the requirements of Chapter 1 of Part 4 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (preservation of benefit under occupational pension schemes).

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)—

(a) “relevant legislative provision” means any provision contained in any of the following provisions—

(i) Schedule 5 to the Social Security Act 1989 (c. 24) (equal treatment for men and women);

[F6 (ii) Chapter 2 or 3 of Part 4 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (certain protection for early leavers) or regulations made under either of those Chapters;

(iia) Chapter 1 or 2 of Part 4ZA of that Act (transfers and contribution refunds) or regulations made under either of those Chapters;]

(iii) Part 4A of that Act (requirements relating to pension credit benefit) or regulations made under that Part;

(iv) section 110(1) of that Act (requirement as to resources for annual increase of guaranteed minimum pensions);

(v) Part 1 of the Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26) (occupational pensions) or subordinate legislation made or having effect as if made under that Part;

(vi) section 31 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30) (pension debits: reduction of benefit);

(vii) any provision mentioned in section 306(2) of this Act;

[F7 (xi) section 55 of the Pension Schemes Act 2015;

(xii) regulations made under section 56 or 57 of the Pension Schemes Act 2015;]

[F8 (xiii) sections 21, 23, 26, 28, 29 and 33 of and Schedule 1 to the Pension Schemes Act 2017;]

[F9 (xiv) regulations under section 18(4) of or paragraph 1(6) of Schedule 2 to the Pension Schemes Act 2021;

(xv) sections 34, 39, 41, 42 and 45 of the Pension Schemes Act 2021;]

(b) a relevant legislative provision is to be taken to override any of the provisions of the scheme if, and only if, it does so by virtue of any of the following provisions—

(i) paragraph 3 of Schedule 5 to the Social Security Act 1989 (c. 24);

(ii) section 129(1) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993;

(iii) section 117(1) of the Pensions Act 1995;

(iv) section 31(4) of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999;

(v) section 306(1) of this Act.

[F10 (ix) section 55(3) of the Pension Schemes Act 2015;

(x) regulations made under section 56(4) or 57(4) of the Pension Schemes Act 2015];

[F11 (xi) sections 21(7), 23(7), 26(9), 28(6), 29(2) and 33(5) of and paragraph 1(7) of Schedule 1 to the Pension Schemes Act 2017];

[F12 (xii) sections 18(7)(b), 34(5), 39(6), 41(6), 42(2) and 45(5) of and paragraph 1(7) of Schedule 2 to the Pension Schemes Act 2021.]

(4) Regulations may, in relation to occupational pension schemes, extend for the purposes of Parts 1, 2 and 4 to 7 and this Part the meaning of “employer” to include—

(a) persons who have been the employer in relation to the scheme;

(b) such other persons as may be prescribed.

(5) Regulations may for any purpose of any provision of this Act—

(a) prescribe the persons who are to be regarded as members or prospective members of an occupational or personal pension scheme, and

(b) make provision as to the times at which and circumstances in which a person is to be treated as becoming, or as ceasing to be, such a member or prospective member.

[F13 (6) A scheme which would otherwise fall within the definition of “public service pension scheme” in subsection (1) does not fall within that definition if—

(a) it is an injury or compensation scheme (within the meaning of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013), or

(b) it is specified in an order made by the Secretary of State after consulting the Treasury.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 318(1) inserted (1.11.2013) by Public Service Pensions Act 2013 (c. 25), s. 41(2), Sch. 4 para. 22(2) (with Sch. 11 para. 8); S.I. 2013/2818, art. 3(d)

F2 Words in s. 318(1) inserted (1.11.2013) by Public Service Pensions Act 2013 (c. 25), s. 41(2), Sch. 4 para. 22(3) (with Sch. 11 para. 8); S.I. 2013/2818, art. 3(d)

F3 Words in s. 318(1) inserted (1.11.2013) by Public Service Pensions Act 2013 (c. 25), s. 41(2), Sch. 4 para. 22(4) (with Sch. 11 para. 8); S.I. 2013/2818, art. 3(d)

F4 Words in s. 318(1) omitted (E.W.S.) (6.4.2010) by virtue of The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/22), art. 1(2)(e), Sch. 2 para. 85 (with Sch. 5) and repealed (N.I.) (6.4.2010) by Pensions Regulator Tribunal (Transfer of Functions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 (c. 4), s. 5(2), Sch. 1 para. 10 (with Sch. 2); S.R. 2010/101, art. 2

F5 Words in s. 318(2) substituted (6.4.2015) by Pension Schemes Act 2015 (c. 8), s. 89(3)(b), Sch. 4 para. 41(2) (with s. 87)

F6 S. 318(3)(a)(ii)(iia) substituted for s. 318(3)(a)(ii) (6.4.2015) by Pension Schemes Act 2015 (c. 8), s. 89(3)(b), Sch. 4 para. 41(3) (with s. 87)

F7 S. 318(3)(a)(xi)(xii) inserted (6.4.2015) by Pension Schemes Act 2015 (c. 8), ss. 60(3)(a), 89(3)(b) (with s. 87)

F8 S. 318(3)(a)(xiii) inserted (27.4.2017) by Pension Schemes Act 2017 (c. 17), s. 44(1)(c), Sch. 3 para. 12(a)

F9 S. 318(3)(a)(xiv)(xv) inserted (11.2.2021 for specified purposes, 1.8.2022 in so far as not already in force) by Pension Schemes Act 2021 (c. 1), s. 131(1)(3)(a), Sch. 3 para. 20(a); S.I. 2022/721, regs. 1(2), 3(a)

F10 S. 318(3)(b)(ix)(x) inserted (6.4.2015) by Pension Schemes Act 2015 (c. 8), ss. 60(3)(b), 89(3)(b) (with s. 87)

F11 S. 318(3)(b)(xi) inserted (27.4.2017) by Pension Schemes Act 2017 (c. 17), s. 44(1)(c), Sch. 3 para. 12(b)

F12 S. 318(3)(b)(xii) inserted (11.2.2021 for specified purposes, 1.8.2022 in so far as not already in force) by Pension Schemes Act 2021 (c. 1), s. 131(1)(3)(a), Sch. 3 para. 20(b); S.I. 2022/721, regs. 1(2), 3(a)

F13 S. 318(6) inserted (1.11.2013) by Public Service Pensions Act 2013 (c. 25), s. 41(2), Sch. 4 para. 22(5) (with Sch. 11 para. 8); S.I. 2013/2818, art. 3(d)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 318 partly in force; s. 318(1)-(5) in force at Royal Assent see s. 322

I2 S. 318(4)(a) in force for the purpose only of conferring power to make regulations, orders or rules, as the case may be, 10.2.2005; and for all other purposes at 6.4.2005 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2005/275, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. 3

I3 S. 318(5) in force at 1.6.2005 by S.I. 2005/1436, art. 2(5)