The Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005

Contribution notices where non-compliance with financial support direction

43.—(1) This Article applies where there is non-compliance with a financial support direction issued in relation to a scheme under Article 39.

(2) The Regulator may issue a notice to any one or more of the persons to whom the direction was issued stating that the person is under a liability to pay to the trustees or managers of the scheme the sum specified in the notice (a “contribution notice”).

(3) The Regulator may issue a contribution notice to a person only if the Regulator is of the opinion that it is reasonable to impose liability on the person to pay the sum specified in the notice.

(4) The Regulator, when deciding for the purposes of paragraph (3) whether it is reasonable to impose liability on a particular person to pay the sum specified in the notice, must have regard to such matters as the Regulator considers relevant including, where relevant, the following matters—

(a) whether the person has taken reasonable steps to secure compliance with the financial support direction,

(b) the relationship which the person has or has had with the employer (including, where the employer is a company within the meaning of paragraph (11) of Article 4 of the Insolvency Order, whether the person has or has had control of the employer within the meaning of paragraph (10) of that Article),

(c) in the case of a person to whom the financial support direction was issued as a person falling within Article 39(6)(b) or (c), the value of any benefits received directly or indirectly by that person from the employer,

(d) the relationship which the person has or has had with the parties to any arrangements put in place in accordance with the direction (including, where any of those parties is a company within the meaning of paragraph (11) of Article 4 of the Insolvency Order, whether the person has or has had control of that company within the meaning of paragraph (10) of that Article),

(e) any connection or involvement which the person has or has had with the scheme,

(f) the financial circumstances of the person, and

(g) such other matters as may be prescribed.

(5) A contribution notice may not be issued under this Article in respect of non-compliance with a financial support direction in relation to a scheme where the Board has assumed responsibility for the scheme in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part III (pension protection).