These Regulations replace the Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) Regulations 1984 and other related regulations which are now revoked. The Regulations supplement the changes introduced by the Pensions Act 1995 to Part III of the Pension Schemes Act 1993. They also consolidate and amend those provisions of the 1984 Regulations which remain relevant. The regulations made by virtue of Part III of the Pensions Act 1995 are made within six months of those provisions coming into force and as a consequence there is no requirement to consult. As regards other regulations, the Occupational Pensions Board has agreed that proposals to make regulations need not be referred to it.