Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Contracting-out (Transfer and Transfer Payment) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 and shall come into operation on 3rd July 2017.

(2) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(3) shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

Amendment of the Contracting-out (Transfer and Transfer Payment) Regulations

2.-(1) The Contracting-out (Transfer and Transfer Payment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(4) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (6).

(2) In regulation 1(2) (interpretation)-

(a)after the definition of "appropriately secured" insert-

""assessment period" has the meaning given in Article 116 of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005(5);";

(b)after the definition of "the principal appointed day" insert-

""regulated apportionment arrangement" has the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Employer Debt) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005(6);".

(3) In regulation 2 (general)-

(a)in paragraph (3) for "3 or 4" substitute "3, 4 or 6A";

(b)after paragraph (3) insert-

"(3A) A transfer payment from an occupational pension scheme in respect of the payment of guaranteed minimum pensions to, or in respect of, a person who has become entitled to them may be made in accordance with regulation 6A and no such transfer payment may be made otherwise.";

(c)in paragraph (4)-

(i)for "3 to 6" substitute "3 to 6A";

(ii)after "in respect of" insert "the payment of guaranteed minimum pensions or a payment in respect of".

(4) In Part 2 (transfers of, and transfer payments in respect of, guaranteed minimum pensions) after regulation 6 (transfer payments in respect of guaranteed minimum pensions to overseas schemes) insert-

"Transfers in respect of guaranteed minimum pensions in the case of a regulated apportionment arrangement or where an assessment period has commenced

6A.-(1) This regulation applies in relation to an occupational pension scheme where-

(a)there is an assessment period in relation to the scheme, or

(b)a regulated apportionment arrangement has been entered into in relation to the scheme.

(2) A transfer of liability for, or a transfer payment in respect of, the payment of guaranteed minimum pensions to, or in respect of, a person who has become entitled to them may be made from an occupational pension scheme to which this regulation applies ("the transferring scheme") to an occupational pension scheme which is not an overseas scheme(7) or overseas arrangement(8) ("the receiving scheme") if the person to whom the pension is payable-

(a)consents to the transfer in writing;

(b)acknowledges in writing to the transferring scheme the receipt of a statement showing the benefits to be awarded in respect of the transfer, and

(c)acknowledges in writing to the transferring scheme the person's acceptance that-

(i)the benefits to be provided by the receiving scheme may be in a different form and of a different amount to those which would have been provided by the transferring scheme, and

(ii)there is no statutory requirement on the receiving scheme to provide for survivor's benefits in relation to the transfer.".

(5) In regulation 7 (general)-

(a)in paragraph (2)(b)(9) after "regulation 9" insert "or a transfer in accordance with regulation 11A";

(b)after paragraph (2) insert-

"(2A) A transfer payment from an occupational pension scheme that was a salary related contracted-out scheme in respect of the payment of pensions under that occupational pension scheme deriving from section 5(2B) rights(10) to, or in respect of, a person who has become entitled to them may be made in accordance with regulation 11A and no such transfer payment may be made otherwise.";

(c)in paragraph (3)-

(i)for "8 to 11" substitute "8 to 11A";

(ii)after "paragraph (1)" insert "or a payment in respect of pensions deriving from section 5(2B) rights such as is referred to in paragraph (2A)".

(6) In Part 3 (transfers of liability in respect of section 5(2B) rights) after regulation 11 (transfer payments to overseas schemes or arrangements in respect of section 5(2B) rights) insert-

"Transfers in respect of section 5(2B) rights in the case of a regulated apportionment arrangement or where an assessment period has commenced

11A.-(1) This regulation applies in relation to an occupational pension scheme that was a salary related contracted-out scheme where-

(a)there is an assessment period in relation to the scheme, or

(b)a regulated apportionment arrangement has been entered into in relation to the scheme.

(2) A transfer of liability for, or a transfer payment in respect of, the payment of pensions deriving from section 5(2B) rights to, or in respect of, a person who has become entitled to them may be made from an occupational pension scheme to which this regulation applies ("the transferring scheme") to an occupational pension scheme which is not an overseas scheme or overseas arrangement ("the receiving scheme") if the person to whom the pension is payable-

(a)consents to the transfer in writing;

(b)acknowledges in writing to the transferring scheme the receipt of a statement showing the benefits to be awarded in respect of the transfer, and

(c)acknowledges in writing to the transferring scheme the person's acceptance that-

(i)the benefits to be provided by the receiving scheme may be in a different form and of a different amount to those which would have been provided by the transferring scheme, and

(ii)there is no statutory requirement on the receiving scheme to provide for survivor's benefits in relation to the transfer.".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Contracting-out (Transfer and Transfer Payment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 ("the 1996 Regulations") to enable schemes that were contracted-out to make transfers in respect of pensioner members into occupational pension schemes which have not previously been contracted-out.

Regulation 2(4) inserts regulation 6A into the 1996 Regulations, which applies in relation to transfers of liability for, and transfer payments in respect of, guaranteed minimum pensions. Regulation 2(6) inserts regulation 11A into the 1996 Regulations, which applies in relation to transfers of liability for, and transfer payments in respect of, section 5(2B) rights.

The Regulations provide that such transfers can be made from an occupational pension scheme where either the scheme is going through a Pension Protection Fund assessment period or where a regulated apportionment arrangement has been entered into in relation to the scheme. The transfer can only be made where the pensioner member consents in writing. In addition, the member must acknowledge in writing receipt of a statement showing the benefits to be awarded in respect of the transfer. The member must also acknowledge in writing the member's acceptance that the benefits to be provided by the receiving scheme may be in a different form and of a different amount to those which would have been payable by the transferring scheme, and that the receiving scheme is not required by statute to provide for survivor's benefits in relation to the transfer.