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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS


2005 No. 2113

PENSIONS

The Occupational Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005

  Made 28th July 2005 
  Laid before Parliament 29th July 2005 
  Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1


ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

1. Citation, commencement and interpretation
2. Amendment of section 10 of, and Schedule 2 to, the Act
3. Amendment of Schedule 9 to the Act
4. Insertion of the definition of "assessment date"
5. Amendment of the definition of "employer" of an occupational pension scheme that has no active members
6. Amendment of the definition of "employer" in relation to a multi-employer scheme or a section of a multi-employer scheme
7. Insertion of definition of "non-segregated scheme"
8. Insertion of the definition of "segregated scheme"
9. Amendment of the Compensation Regulations
10. Amendment of the Multi-employer Regulations
11. Amendment of the Notifiable Events Regulations
12. Amendment of the Provision of Information Regulations
13. Amendment of the Review and Reconsideration Regulations
14. Revocations

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 10(5)(a) and (7)(a), 69(2), 206(4)(a), 207(2), 307(1)(b) and (2)(b), 315(2), (4) and (5) and 318(1) and (4)(a) of, and paragraph 23 of Schedule 7 to, the Pensions Act 2004[
1], and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, by this instrument, which contains regulations made before the end of the period of six months beginning with the coming into force of the provisions of that Act by virtue of which the regulations are made[2], makes the following Regulations:

Citation, commencement and interpretation
     1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Occupational Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005 and, except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (2) to (4), shall come into force on 19th August 2005.

    (2) Paragraphs (3) and (4) of regulation 10 (amendment of the Multi-employer Regulations), and this paragraph in so far as it applies those paragraphs of that regulation, shall come into force on 1st August 2005.

    (3) Paragraphs (1) to (6) of regulation 9 (amendment of the Compensation Regulations) shall come into force on 5th December 2005.

    (4) Paragraph (7) of regulation 9 shall come into force—

    (5) In these Regulations—

Amendment of section 10 of, and Schedule 2 to, the Act
     2. —(1) After subsection (6)(h) of section 10 of the Act (functions exercisable by the Determinations Panel), insert—

    (2) After paragraph 15 of Schedule 2 to the Act[10] (the reserved regulatory functions), insert—

    (3) Paragraphs (ha) and (hb) of section 10(6) of, and paragraphs 15A and 15B of Schedule 2 to, the Act (as inserted by paragraphs (1) and (2)) shall only have effect in the case of applications made by virtue of sections 58(7) and 60(7) of the Pensions Act 1995[11] on or after the date on which these Regulations come into force for the exercise of the power to extend or further extend under section 58(7) or 60(7) of that Act.

Amendment of Schedule 9 to the Act
     3. After paragraph 7 of Schedule 9 to the Act[12] (reviewable matters), insert—

Insertion of the definition of "assessment date"
     4. —(1) In each of the provisions specified in paragraph (2), in the appropriate alphabetical place, insert—

    (2) The specified provisions are—

Amendment of the definition of "employer" of an occupational pension scheme that has no active members
     5. —(1) For the first definition of "employer" ("employer" in relation to an occupational pension scheme that has no active members) in each of the provisions specified in paragraph (2), substitute—

    (2) The specified provisions are—

    (3) For paragraph (4) of regulation 1 of the Entry Rules Regulations, substitute—

    (4) For paragraph (2) of regulation 2 of the Provision of Information Regulations, substitute—

Amendment of the definition of "employer" in relation to a multi-employer scheme or a section of a multi-employer scheme
    
6. —(1) For the second definition of "employer" ("employer" in relation to a multi-employer scheme or a section of a multi-employer scheme) in each of the provisions specified in paragraph (2), substitute—

    (2) The specified provisions are—

    (3) For paragraph (5) of regulation 1 of the Entry Rules Regulations, substitute—

    (4) For paragraph (3) of regulation 2 of the Provision of Information Regulations, substitute—

    (5) For the second definition of "employer" in paragraph (2) of regulation 1 of the Valuation Regulations, substitute—

Insertion of definition of "non-segregated scheme"
     7. —(1) In each of the provisions specified in paragraph (2), in the appropriate alphabetical place, insert—

    (2) The specified provisions are—

Insertion of the definition of "segregated scheme"
    
8. —(1) In each of the provisions specified in paragraph (2), in the appropriate alphabetical place, insert—

    (2) The specified provisions are—

Amendment of the Compensation Regulations
    
9. —(1) The Compensation Regulations shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

    (2) In paragraph (2) of regulation 1—

    (3) In regulation 3 (circumstances where a widow or widower is not entitled to periodic compensation), for "where there is no provision to pay a survivor's pension under the admissible rules of the scheme.", substitute—

    (4) In regulation 4 (compensation for surviving dependants)—

    (5) In regulation 5[16] (amount and duration of periodic compensation in the case of relevant partners), after "compensation is payable to a relevant partner", insert "or civil partner,".

    (6) In paragraphs (2) and (3) of regulation 6 (amount of periodic compensation that can be paid in the case of surviving dependants), for "surviving spouse or relevant partner", substitute "surviving spouse, relevant partner or civil partner".

    (7) In regulation 7 (period of payment), for "25", in each place it occurs, substitute "23".

Amendment of the Multi-employer Regulations
     10. —(1) The Multi-employer Regulations shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

    (2) In regulation 1[
17] (citation, commencement and interpretation)—

    (3) For Part 3 (segregated schemes: multi-employer sections without requirement for partial wind up on withdrawal of participating employer), substitute—



Board's duty where application or notification received under section 129
     18. Section 130 of the Act (Board's duty where application or notification received under section 129) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if—

Protected liabilities
    
19. Section 131 of the Act (protected liabilities) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if, for subsection (1), there were substituted the following subsection—

Assessment periods
    
20. Section 132 of the Act (assessment periods) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if—

Directions
    
21. Section 134 of the Act (directions) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if—

Power to validate contraventions of section 135 and Board to act as creditor of the employer
    
22. —(1) Section 136 of the Act (power to validate contraventions of section 135) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if—

    (2) Section 137(2) of the Act (Board to act as creditor of the employer) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if, for the words "the employer", there were substituted the words "an employer".

Valuation of assets
    
23. —(1) Section 143(2) of the Act (Board's obligation to obtain valuation of assets and protected liabilities) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if, for the words "the scheme", there were substituted the words "the relevant section of the scheme".

    (2) Section 144 of the Act (approval of valuation) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if—

    (3) Section 145 of the Act (binding valuations) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if—

Refusal to assume responsibility for a scheme
    
24. —(1) Section 146 of the Act (schemes which become eligible schemes) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if—

    (2) Section 147 of the Act (new schemes created to replace existing schemes) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if—

    (3) Section 148 of the Act (withdrawal following issue of section 122(4) notice) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if—

Reconsideration, closed schemes and requirement to wind up schemes with sufficient assets to meet protected liabilities
    
25. —(1) Section 151(8) of the Act (application for reconsideration) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if, in the definition of "protected benefits quotation", for the words from ""protected benefits quotation", in relation to a scheme, means" to the words "from the reconsideration time—", there were substituted the following words—

    (2) Section 152 of the Act (duty to assume responsibility following reconsideration) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if—

    (3) Section 153 of the Act (closed schemes) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if—

    (4) Section 154 of the Act (requirement to wind up schemes with sufficient assets to meet protected liabilities) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if—

    (5) Section 155 of the Act (treatment of closed schemes) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if, for subsection (1), there were substituted the following subsection—

    (6) Section 157 of the Act (applications and notifications where closed schemes have insufficient assets) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if, after subsection (4), there were inserted the following subsection—

Transfer notice and assumption of responsibility for a scheme
    
26. —(1) Section 160 of the Act (transfer notice) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if—

    (2) Section 161 of the Act (effect of Board assuming responsibility for a scheme) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if—

    (3) Schedule 6 to the Act (transfer of property, rights and liabilities to the Board) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if, in paragraph 1, for the words "an occupational pension scheme", there were substituted the words "a multi-employer section of a segregated multi-employer scheme".

The pension compensation provisions
    
27. —(1) Section 162(1) of the Act (the pension compensation provisions) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if—

    (2) Section 163(2) of the Act (adjustments to be made where the Board assumes responsibility for a scheme) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if, in paragraph (a), after the words "to any member", there were inserted the words "of that section".

    (3) Section 166(1) of the Act (duty to pay scheme benefits unpaid at assessment date etc) shall be modified in its application to a section of a scheme to which regulation 14 applies so that it shall be read as if, for the words "assumes responsibility for a scheme", there were substituted the words "assumes responsibility for a multi-employer section of a segregated scheme".".

    (4) For Part 6 (non-segregated schemes: schemes without provision for partial wind up on withdrawal of a participating employer), substitute—



Amendment of the Notifiable Events Regulations
    
11. —(1) The Notifiable Events Regulations shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

    (2) In sub-paragraph (c) of regulation 2(1) (notifiable events), after "another scheme", insert ", or where the trustees or managers are required to make or accept a transfer payment without such a decision having been taken, the making or acceptance of that payment,".

    (3) In sub-paragraph (e) of regulation 2(1), after "to a member", insert ", or where the trustees or managers are required to grant benefits or a right to benefits without such a decision having been taken, the granting of those benefits or that right,".

    (4) In sub-paragraph (b) of regulation 2(2), after "United Kingdom", add ", or where the employer ceases to carry on business in the United Kingdom without such a decision having been taken, the cessation of business in the United Kingdom by that employer".

    (5) In sub-paragraph (f) of regulation 2(2), after "employer company", add ", or where the controlling company relinquishes such control without a decision to do so having been taken, the relinquishing of control of the employer company by that controlling company".

Amendment of the Provision of Information Regulations
    
12. —(1) The Provision of Information Regulations shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

    (2) In paragraph (1) of regulation 2, at the end of the definition of "review decision", omit "and".

    (3) In paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 2 (information to be provided by trustees or managers), omit the definition of "assessment date".

Amendment of the Review and Reconsideration Regulations
    
13. —(1) The Review and Reconsideration Regulations shall be amended in accordance with the provisions of this regulation.

    (2) In the table in the Schedule (interested person), after paragraph 7, insert—

     "7A. Paragraph 7A[24]

     7A. The member in respect of whom a determination under section 141(2) is made"


Revocations
    
14. Paragraphs (2), (4) and (7) of regulation 5 of the Occupational Pension Schemes and Pension Protection Fund (Amendment) Regulations 2005[25] (amendment of the Multi-employer Regulations) are revoked.



Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.


Stephen C. Timms
Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions

28th July 2005



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)


These Regulations amend the Pensions Act 2004 (c.35) ("the Act"), the Pension Protection Fund (Compensation) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/670) ("the Compensation Regulations"), the Pension Protection Fund (Entry Rules) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/590) ("the Entry Rules Regulations"), the Pension Protection Fund (Multi-employer Schemes) (Modification) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/441) ("the Multi-employer Regulations"), the Pensions Regulator (Notifiable Events) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/900) ("the Notifiable Events Regulations"), the Pension Protection Fund (Provision of Information) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/674) ("the Provision of Information Regulations"), the Pension Protection Fund (Review and Reconsideration of Reviewable Matters) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/669) ("the Review and Reconsideration Regulations") and the Pension Protection Fund (Valuation) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/672) ("the Valuation Regulations").

Regulation 2 amends section 10 of, and Schedule 2 to, the Act by adding the power to extend or further extend prescribed periods under sections 58(6) and 60(3) of the Pensions Act 1995 (c.26) ("the 1995 Act") to the list of reserved regulatory functions listed in Schedule 2 to the Act. The amendments reserve the exercise of those powers to the Determinations Panel in the circumstances mentioned in section 10(2) of the Act.

Regulation 3 amends Schedule 9 to the Act by adding a determination made by the Board under section 141(2) of the Act to the reviewable matters prescribed in that Schedule.

Regulation 4 inserts a definition of "assessment date" into the Compensation Regulations, the Entry Rules Regulations, the Multi-employer Regulations, the Provision of Information Regulations, the Review and Reconsideration Regulations and the Valuation Regulations.

Regulation 5 substitutes a new definition of "employer", where certain occupational pension schemes have no active members, into the Compensation Regulations, the Entry Rules Regulations, the Provision of Information Regulations, the Review and Reconsideration Regulations and the Valuation Regulations.

Regulation 6 substitutes a new definition of "employer", in relation to a multi-employer scheme or a section of a multi-employer scheme, into the Compensation Regulations, the Entry Rules Regulations, the Provision of Information Regulations, the Review and Reconsideration Regulations and the Valuation Regulations.

Regulation 7 inserts a definition of "non-segregated scheme" into the Compensation Regulations, the Provision of Information Regulations, the Review and Reconsideration Regulations and the Valuation Regulations.

Regulation 8 inserts a definition of "segregated scheme" into the Compensation Regulations, the Provision of Information Regulations, the Review and Reconsideration Regulations and the Valuation Regulations.

Regulation 9 extends the Compensation Regulations to civil partners. It provides that—

Regulation 11 amends the Notifiable Events Regulations, so that certain events which involved the taking of a decision about a certain action are now expanded to include a requirement to notify the Pensions Regulator when the action itself occurs in circumstances where a decision about that action was not required to be taken.

Regulation 12 amends regulation 2 of the Provision of Information Regulations to correct a typographical error and makes a further consequential amendment to omit the definition of "assessment date" in paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 2 to those Regulations.

Regulation 13 amends the Review and Reconsideration Regulations by prescribing the interested person in relation to the reviewable matter specified in paragraph 7A of Schedule 9 to the Act as inserted by regulation 3 of these Regulations.

Regulation 14 revokes paragraphs (2), (4) and (7) of regulation 5 of the Occupational Pension Schemes and Pension Protection Fund (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/993) as a consequence of the amendment of the Multi-employer Regulations by regulation 11 of these Regulations.

As these Regulations are made before the expiry of the period of six months beginning with the coming into force of the provisions of the Act by virtue of which they are made, the requirement for the Secretary of State to consult such persons as he considers appropriate does not apply.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business.


Notes:

[1] 2004 c.35. The Pensions Act 2004 is modified in its application to partially guaranteed schemes by S.I. 2005/277, in its application to hybrid schemes by S.I. 2005/449, and in its application to multi-employer schemes by S.I. 2005/441 (as amended by S.I. 2005/993). Section 318(1) is cited because of the meaning there given to "modifications", "prescribed" and "regulations".back

[2] See section 317 of the Pensions Act 2004, which provides that the Secretary of State must consult such persons as he considers appropriate before making regulations by virtue of the provisions of that Act (other than Part 8). This duty does not apply where regulations are made before the end of the period of six months beginning with the coming into force of the provisions of the Act by virtue of which the regulations are made.back

[3] S.I. 2005/670, amended by S.I. 2005/993.back

[4] S.I. 2005/590, amended by S.I. 2005/993.back

[5] S.I. 2005/441, amended by S.I. 2005/993.back

[6] S.I. 2005/900.back

[7] S.I. 2005/674.back

[8] S.I. 2005/669, amended by S.I. 2005/993.back

[9] S.I. 2005/672, amended by S.I. 2005/993.back

[10] Schedule 2 was amended by S.I. 2005/703.back

[11] 1995 c.26. Section 58 was amended by section 18 of, and paragraph 14(1) of Schedule 2 to, the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c.30).back

[12] Schedule 9 was amended by regulation 4 of S.I. 2005/600 and was also modified, in relation to a partially guaranteed scheme, by regulation 3 of that instrument. Schedule 9 was further modified, in relation to the functions of the Pensions Compensation Board, by article 4(11) of S.I. 2005/1720.back

[13] Regulation 1 was amended by regulation 5(2) of S.I. 2005/993.back

[14] Section 75 was amended by section 271 of the Pensions Act 2004.back

[15] 2004 c.33.back

[16] Regulation 5(b) was amended by regulation 2 of S.I. 2005/993.back

[17] Regulation 1 was amended by regulation 5(2) of S.I. 2005/993.back

[18] Subsection (1A) of section 129 of the Pensions Act 2004 (c.35) is inserted by the modification in paragraph (3)(b) of this regulation.back

[19] Subsection (4) of section 129 of the Pensions Act 2004 is substituted by the modification in paragraph (3)(c) of this regulation.back

[20] Subsection (1) of section 129 is modified by paragraph (3)(a) of this regulation.back

[21] Subsection (1A) of section 129 of the Pensions Act 2004 is inserted by the modification in regulation 65(1)(b) as substituted by these Regulations.back

[22] Subsection (4) of section 129 of the Pensions Act 2004 is substituted by the modification in regulation 65(1)(c) as substituted by these Regulations.back

[23] Subsection (1) of section 129 of the Pensions Act 2004 is substituted by the modification in regulation 65(1)(a) as substituted by these Regulations.back

[24] Paragraph 7A is inserted by regulation 3 of these Regulations.back

[25] S.I. 2005/993.back



ISBN 0 11 073197 2


 © Crown copyright 2005

Prepared 15 August 2005


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