R7.—(1) For the purposes of these Regulations, “health service scheme” means—
(a)a superannuation scheme provided under the regulations made under section 10 of the Superannuation Act 1972(1) and for the time being in force in relation to England and Wales, or
(b)a superannuation scheme provided under regulations for the time being in force under Article 12 of the Superannuation (Northern Ireland) Order 1972(2) or section 54 of the National Health Service (Isle of Man) Act 1948 (an Act of Tynwald), or
(c)any other occupational pension scheme approved for this purpose by the Secretary of State.
(2) A member who leaves employment in respect of which the member qualified for benefit under a health service scheme and who joins the scheme may, subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), require the Secretary of State to credit him with a period of service (together with the rights attaching to that service) under the scheme calculated as if—
(a)the employment to which the health service scheme applied were NHS employment, and
(b)the member’s contributions to the health service scheme were contributions to the scheme.
(3) The member may exercise this right only if a transfer payment is made from the health service scheme to the scheme.
(4) A member who wishes to exercise this right must do so by making application in writing to the Secretary of State within 1 year after joining the scheme.
(5) A member who leaves employment to which a health service scheme applied without becoming entitled to any benefits other than a refund of contributions may buy additional service as described in regulation Q1 (right to buy additional service). Regulation Q3(7) and regulation Q5(8) will apply, as the case may be, as if the previous service under a health service scheme were previous pensionable service under this scheme.
1972 c. 11; section 10(1)(a) was amended by the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972 (c. 58), Schedule 7, Part II and sections 10(2A) and (3A) and (6) were inserted and section 10(1) amended, by the Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1990 (c. 7), sections 4(2) and 8(5).