The Contracting-out (Transfer and Transfer Payment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Type Ni-Statutory-Rule
Publication 1996-12-31
State In force
Jurisdiction Northern Ireland
Department Government Printer for Northern Ireland
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articles Not indexed
Reform history JSON API

Made: 31st December 1996

Coming into operation: 6th April 1997

The Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by sections 8C(1)(a), 16(1) to (3) and 177(2) to (4) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993[^f00001] and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf, hereby makes the following Regulations:

Part I — General

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1

Part II — Transfers of, and Transfer Payments in respect of, Guaranteed Minimum Pensions

General

2

3

A transfer may be made to a salary related contracted-out scheme if—

Connected employer transfers of guaranteed minimum pensions

4

A connected employer transfer may be made to a salary related contracted-out scheme subject to the conditions set out in regulation 3(c) and (e).

Transfer payments in respect of guaranteed minimum pensions to money purchase contracted-out schemes and appropriate personal pension schemes

5

A transfer payment may be made to a money purchase contracted-out scheme or an appropriate personal pension scheme if—

Transfer payments in respect of guaranteed minimum pensions to overseas schemes

6

A transfer payment may be made to an overseas scheme if—

Part III — Transfers of Liability in Respect of Section 5(2B) Rights

General

7

may be made in accordance with arrangements which satisfy paragraph (2) and no such transfer may be made otherwise.

8

A transfer payment in respect of an earner’s accrued section 5(2B) rights may be made to a salary related contracted-out scheme if—

Connected employer transfer payments

9

A connected employer transfer payment may be made to a salary related contracted-out scheme subject to—

Transfer payments to money purchase contracted-out schemes and appropriate personal pension schemes in respect of section 5(2B) rights

10

A transfer payment in respect of an earner’s accrued section 5(2B) rights may be made to a money purchase contracted-out scheme or an appropriate personal pension scheme if—

Transfer payments to overseas schemes or arrangements in respect of section 5(2B) rights

11

A transfer payment in respect of an earner’s accrued section 5(2B) rights may be made to an overseas scheme or overseas arrangement if—

Part IV — Modifications of Part III of the 1993 Act

Modifications of Part III of the 1993 Act on transfers of, and transfer payments in respect of, guaranteed minimum pensions from occupational pension schemes

12

Where a transfer to a salary related contracted-out scheme, or a transfer payment to an overseas scheme, has taken place from an occupational pension scheme in accordance with regulation 3, 4 or 6 (or with regulation 2 of the 1985 Regulations[^f00015]), the 1993 Act shall have effect subject to the following modifications—

Modifications of Part III of the 1993 Act on transfers from policies of insurance or annuity contracts

13

Where a transfer to a salary related contracted-out scheme, or a transfer payment to an overseas scheme, in respect of an earner’s accrued rights to guaranteed minimum pensions has taken place from an appropriate policy in accordance with regulation 3 or 6 (or with regulation 2A of the 1985 Regulations[^f00020]), the 1993 Act shall have effect subject to the following modifications—

Part V — Revocations and Transitional Provisions

Revocations and transitional provisions

14

SCHEDULE 1 — Further Conditions for Transfers of Guaranteed Minimum Pensions

1

Subject to paragraphs 2 to 4, the receiving scheme must in respect of the rights transferred—

2

Subject to paragraphs 3 and 4, the arrangements for the transfer (in this Schedule called “the arrangements”) must contain provision that the earner’s earnings factors which are attributable to any particular period of service, or the weekly equivalent derived therefrom, will be increased at the same rate under the receiving scheme as that at which they or it would have fallen to be increased under the transferring scheme if—

3

If the weekly equivalent derived from the earnings factors which are attributable to any particular period of service was not, before the transfer, affected by a provision made, or a provision analogous to one made, under section 12(2) and (3), the arrangements may contain a provision analogous to one made under section 12(2) and (3) in relation to it.

4

If the weekly equivalent derived from the earnings factors which are attributable to any particular period of service was, before the transfer, affected by a provision made, or a provision analogous to one made, under section 12(2) and (3), the arrangements may contain a provision that those earnings factors will be increased under the receiving scheme at the same rate as that at which they would have fallen to be increased if—

under section 12(2) and (3) relating to that weekly equivalent.

5

The receiving scheme must provide for pensions to be paid which are of at least equal value to the annuity which would have been payable by the transferring policy, had the transfer not taken place, in respect of the earner’s accrued rights to guaranteed minimum pensions.

Part III — Further Conditions for Transfer of Liability for the Payment of a Guaranteed Minimum Pension to, or in respect of, a Person who has become entitled to it

6

The date of commencement of the pension the liability for which is transferred—

and the receiving scheme must contain the same provision (if any) for suspension and forfeiture of that pension as for guaranteed minimum pensions provided by the receiving scheme in accordance with section 9 or (as the case may be) 13.

SCHEDULE 2 — Modifications of Part III of the 1993 Act

1

The definition of “guaranteed minimum pension” in section 4(2) shall have effect as if—

2

Section 10(1) shall have effect as if the reference to employment which is contracted-out by reference to the scheme included a reference to employment in any period of linked qualifying service which was contracted-out by reference to the transferring scheme.

3

Section 16(6) shall have effect as if after “sections 9 and 13” there were inserted “or in compliance with the condition set out in paragraph 1 or 6 of Schedule 1 to the Contracting-out (Transfer and Transfer Payment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (or, as the case may be, in paragraph 1 or 5 of Schedule 2 to the Contracting-out (Transfer) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1985)”.

4

Section 42 shall have effect as if the reference in subsection (1)(b) to one or more guaranteed minimum pensions included the guaranteed minimum pensions which would have been payable if they had been preserved in and paid by the transferring scheme or policy.

5

Section 155 shall have effect as if subsections (1)(b) and (3) were omitted.

6

The definition of “guaranteed minimum pension” in section 4(2) shall have effect as if—

7

Section 16(6) shall have effect as if after “sections 9 and 13” there were inserted “or in compliance with the condition set out in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to the Contracting-out (Transfer and Transfer Payment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (or, as the case may be, in regulation 2A(4) of the Contracting-out (Transfer) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1985)”.

SCHEDULE 3 — Revocations

Column (1) Column (2) Column (3)
Citation Reference Extent of revocation
The Contracting-out (Transfer) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1985 S.R. 1985 No. 243 The whole Regulations
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986 S.R. 1986 No. 57 The whole Regulations
The Contracting-out (Requisite Benefits — Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986 S.R. 1986 No. 342 Regulation 5
The Contracting-out (Transfer) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 S.R. 1987 No. 277 The whole Regulations
The Personal and Occupational Pension Schemes (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 S.R. 1987 No. 292 Regulation 5
The Contracting-out (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988 S.R. 1988 No. 108 The whole Regulations
The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 S.R. 1994 No. 300 In Schedule 2, paragraph 2

SCHEDULE 4 — Transitional Provisions

In a case such as is mentioned in regulation 14(3) of these Regulations, the 1985 Regulations are modified as follows:

  • “section 49 money purchase scheme” means a scheme which was formerly a money purchase contracted-out scheme and in respect of which section 49 applies;
  • “section 49 salary related scheme” means a scheme which was formerly a salary related contracted-out scheme and in respect of which section 49 applies;

Signed

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland on 31st December 1996.

John O'Neill — Assistant Secretary

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations replace the Contracting-out (Transfer) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1985 (“the 1985 Regulations”) which are, subject to transitional provisions, now revoked. The Regulations supplement changes introduced by the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (“the Order”) to Part III of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (“the 1993 Act”). They also consolidate and amend those provisions of the 1985 Regulations which remain relevant. In addition to minor and drafting amendments, the Regulations make the following changes of substance—

Part I contains general provisions relating to citation, commencement and interpretation of the Regulations.

Part II makes provision for the circumstances in which and the conditions subject to which a transfer of or transfer payment in respect of an earner’s accrued rights to guaranteed minimum pensions (or the liability for the payment of guaranteed minimum pensions in respect of which entitlement has already arisen) may be made from one pension scheme to another or from an insurance policy or annuity contract to a pension scheme.

Part III makes provision for the circumstances in which and the conditions subject to which a transfer of liability may be made from a pension scheme or from an insurance policy or annuity contract to a pension scheme or arrangement in respect of rights to pensions which have accrued on or after the principal appointed day under a scheme contracted-out by virtue of section 5(2B) of the 1993 Act.

Part IV modifies Part III of the 1993 Act where a transfer or transfer payment has been made under Part II of the Regulations (or under certain provisions of the 1985 Regulations) to a scheme which is contracted-out under section 5(2) of the 1993 Act (a salary related contracted-out scheme) so as to ensure that the receiving scheme provides guaranteed minimum pensions in consequence of the transfer or transfer payment.

Part V contains consequential revocations and transitional provisions.

Section 8C of the 1993 Act (as inserted by Article 133(5) of the Order), one of the enabling provisions under which these Regulations are made, came into operation for the purpose of authorising the making of regulations on 6th April 1996, and comes into operation for all other purposes on 6th April 1997 by virtue of the Pensions (1995 Order) (Commencement No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 91 (C. 4)).

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1993 c. 49; section 8C was inserted by Article 133(5) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22))

[^f00002]: S.R. 1985 No. 243, as amended by S.R. 1985 No. 259, S.R. 1986 Nos. 57 and 342, S.R. 1987 Nos. 277 and 292, S.R. 1988 No. 108 and S.R. 1994 No. 300

[^f00003]: Section 3 is amended by Article 133(1) of, and paragraph 15 of Schedule 3 to, the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00004]: S.I. 1986/1032 (N.I. 6); Articles 4 and 4A were substituted for Article 4 by Article 62(1) of the Companies (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990 (S.I. 1990/1504 (N.I. 10))

[^f00005]: 1988 c. 1; section 590A was inserted by paragraph 4 of Schedule 6 to the Finance Act 1989 (c. 26). See also paragraph 18(2) of Schedule 6 to that Act

[^f00006]: Section 5(3) is amended by Article 133(4) of, and paragraph 17 of Schedule 3 to, the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00007]: Section 49 applies to occupational pension schemes by virtue of section 48(1) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993. Section 49 is amended by paragraph 40 of Schedule 3 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00008]: Section 3(2B) was inserted by Article 133(1) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00009]: Section 5(2) to (2C) was substituted for section 5(2) by Article 133(3) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00010]: S.R. 1996 No. 509.

[^f00011]: 1954 c. 33 (N.I.)

[^f00012]: Section 12(3) was amended by paragraph 21(a) of Schedule 3 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00013]: Section 93 was amended by paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00014]: S.R. 1991 No. 37; relevant amending regulations are S.R. 1993 No. 324

[^f00015]: Regulation 2 was amended by S.R. 1986 No. 342, S.R. 1987 No. 277 and S.R. 1994 No. 300

[^f00016]: Section 10 is amended by paragraph 20 of Schedule 3 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00017]: Section 4(2) is amended by paragraph 16(a) of Schedule 3 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00018]: Section 155 is amended by paragraph 33 of Schedule 1 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00019]: Section 42 is amended by paragraph 54 of Schedule 1 to the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (S.I. 1994/1898 (N.I. 12)) and by paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 to, and paragraph 36 of Schedule 3 to, the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00020]: Regulation 2A was inserted by regulation 4 of S.R. 1987 No. 277 and amended by S.R. 1994 No. 300

[^f00021]: Section 91 is amended by paragraph 5 of Schedule 4 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00022]: Regulation 1 was amended by S.R. 1987 No. 277 and S.R. 1994 No. 300. Regulation 2B was inserted by S.R. 1987 No. 277 and amended by S.R. 1994 No. 300

[^f00023]: Section 9 is amended by paragraph 19 of Schedule 3 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00024]: Section 13 is amended by paragraph 22 of Schedule 3 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00025]: These definitions were substituted by paragraph 2(2)(e) of Schedule 2 to S.R. 1994 No. 300

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