1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Seamen's Wages) (Contributions) Regulations 1972 and shall come into operation on 1st January 1973.

(2) In these Regulations-

"charity" means a charity (as defined in section 45(1) of the Charities Act 1960) established for purposes including any purposes for the relief or benefit of seamen, former seamen, their families or dependants;

"friendly society" means a friendly society registered under the Friendly Societies Act 1896;

"pension" means a pension payable to or in respect of a seaman or former seaman, and includes a lump sum or gratuity so payable and a return of contributions to a pension fund, with or without interest thereon or any other addition thereto;

"pension fund" means a fund which is established for the purpose of paying pensions; and

"trade union" means an organisation of workers (as defined in section 61(1) of the Industrial Relations Act 1971) whether or not it is for the time being registered as a trade union under that Act.

(3) The Interpretation Act 1889 shall apply to the interpretation of these Regulations as it applies to the interpretation of an Act of Parliament.

2. It is hereby declared that section 11 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970 applies-

(a)in relation to contributions to a fund, to-

(i)any pension fund; and

(ii)any charity; and

(b)in relation to contributions in respect of membership of a body, to-

(i)any trade union; and

(ii)any friendly society.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 11 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970 restricts assignment of and charges upon the wages of seamen employed in ships registered in the United Kingdom but provides that nothing in the section is to apply to any disposition relating to the application of wages in the payment of contributions to a fund, or in respect of membership of a body, which has been declared by regulations to be a fund or body to which the section applies. These Regulations declare the funds and bodies to which it applies.