Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill

Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill - continued	House of Commons
PART IVA, REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO PENSION CREDIT BENEFIT - continued

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	Adaptation of statutory schemes
Extension of scheme-making powers.	34. - (1) Power under an Act to establish a pension scheme shall include power to make provision for the provision, by reference to pension credits which derive from rights under-
	(a) the scheme, or
	(b) a scheme in relation to which the scheme is specified as an alternative for the purposes of paragraph 2 of Schedule 5,
	of benefits to or in respect of those entitled to the credits.
	(2) Subsection (1) is without prejudice to any other power.
	(3) Subsection (1) shall apply in relation to Acts whenever passed.
	(4) No obligation to consult shall apply in relation to the making, in exercise of a power under an Act to establish a pension scheme, of provision of a kind authorised by subsection (1).
	(5) In this section-
	"pension credit" includes a credit under Northern Ireland legislation corresponding to section 21(1)(b);
	"pension scheme" means a scheme or arrangement providing benefits, in the form of pensions or otherwise, payable on termination of service, or on death or retirement, to or in respect of persons to whom the scheme or arrangement applies.
Power to extend judicial pension schemes.	35. - (1) The appropriate minister may by regulations amend the Sheriffs' Pensions (Scotland) Act 1961, the Judicial Pensions Act 1981 or the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 for the purpose of-
	(a) extending a pension scheme under the Act to include the provision, by reference to pension credits which derive from rights under-
	(i) the scheme, or
	(ii) a scheme in relation to which the scheme is specified as an alternative for the purposes of paragraph 2 of Schedule 5,
	of benefits to or in respect of those entitled to the credits, or
	(b) restricting the power of the appropriate minister to accept payments into a pension scheme under the Act, where the payments represent the cash equivalent of rights under another pension scheme which are attributable (directly or indirectly) to a pension credit.
	(2) Regulations under subsection (1)-
	(a) may make benefits provided by virtue of paragraph (a) of that subsection a charge on, and payable out of, the Consolidated Fund;
	(b) may confer power to make subordinate legislation.
	(3) The appropriate minister for the purposes of subsection (1) is-
	(a) in relation to a pension scheme whose ordinary members are limited to those who hold judicial office whose jurisdiction is exercised exclusively in relation to Scotland, the Secretary of State, and
	(b) in relation to any other pension scheme, the Lord Chancellor.
	(4) In this section-
	"pension credit" includes a credit under Northern Ireland legislation corresponding to section 21(1)(b);
	"pension scheme" means a scheme or arrangement providing benefits, in the form of pensions or otherwise, payable on termination of service, or on death or retirement, to or in respect of persons to whom the scheme or arrangement applies.
	Supplementary
Disapplication of restrictions on alienation.	36. - (1) Nothing in any of the following provisions (restrictions on alienation of pension rights) applies in relation to any order or provision falling within section 20(1)-
	(a) section 203(1) and (2) of the Army Act 1955, section 203(1) and (2) of the Air Force Act 1955, section 128G(1) and (2) of the Naval Discipline Act 1957 and section 159(4) and (4A) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993,
	(b) section 91 of the Pensions Act 1995,
	(c) any provision of any enactment (whether passed or made before or after this Act is passed) corresponding to any of the enactments mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b), and
	(d) any provision of a pension arrangement corresponding to any of those enactments.
	(2) In this section, "enactment" includes an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978).
Information.	37. - (1) The Secretary of State may by regulations require the person responsible for a pension arrangement involved in pension sharing to supply to such persons as he may specify in the regulations such information relating to anything which follows from the application of section 21 as he may so specify.
	(2) Section 168 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (breach of regulations) shall apply as if this section were contained in that Act (otherwise than in Chapter II of Part VII).
	(3) For the purposes of this section, a pension arrangement is involved in pension sharing if section 21 applies by virtue of an order or provision which relates to the arrangement.
Interpretation of Chapter I.	38. - (1) In this Chapter-
	"implementation period", in relation to a pension credit, has the meaning given by section 26;
	"occupational pension scheme" has the meaning given by section 1 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993;
	"pension arrangement" means-
	(a) an occupational pension scheme,
	(b) a personal pension scheme,
	(c) a retirement annuity contract,
	(d) an annuity or insurance policy purchased, or transferred, for the purpose of giving effect to rights under an occupational pension scheme or a personal pension scheme, and
	(e) an annuity purchased, or entered into, for the purpose of discharging liability in respect of a credit under section 21(1)(b) or under corresponding Northern Ireland legislation;
	"pension credit" means a credit under section 21(1)(b);
	"pension debit" means a debit under section 21(1)(a);
	"pensionable service", in relation to a member of an occupational pension scheme, means service in any description or category of employment to which the scheme relates which qualifies the member (on the assumption that it continues for the appropriate period) for pension or other benefits under the scheme;
	"personal pension scheme" has the meaning given by section 1 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993;
	"retirement annuity contract" means a contract or scheme approved under Chapter III of Part XIV of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988;
	"shareable rights" has the meaning given by section 19(2);
	"trustees or managers", in relation to an occupational pension scheme or a personal pension scheme means-
	(a) in the case of a scheme established under a trust, the trustees of the scheme, and
	(b) in any other case, the managers of the scheme.
	(2) In this Chapter, references to the person responsible for a pension arrangement are-
	(a) in the case of an occupational pension scheme or a personal pension scheme, to the trustees or managers of the scheme,
	(b) in the case of a retirement annuity contract or an annuity falling within paragraph (d) or (e) of the definition of "pension arrangement" in subsection (1), to the provider of the annuity, and
	(c) in the case of an insurance policy falling within paragraph (d) of the definition of that expression, to the insurer.
	(3) In determining what is "pensionable service" for the purposes of this Chapter-
	(a) service notionally attributable for any purpose of the scheme is to be disregarded, and
	(b) no account is to be taken of any rules of the scheme by which a period of service can be treated for any purpose as being longer or shorter than it actually is.

Prepared 10 February 1999