The Occupational Pension Schemes (Internal Dispute Resolution Procedures) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

The Pensions (1995 Order) (Commencement No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 1995 (S.R. 1996 No. 91 (C. 4)) provides for the coming into operation of Articles 10(2) and 50 of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (“the Order”), the enabling provisions under which these Regulations are made, on 6th April 1996 for the purposes only of authorising the making of regulations. As the Regulations are made before the end of a period of six months from the commencement of those Articles, the requirement for consultation under Article 117(1) of the Order does not apply by virtue of paragraph (2)(c) of that Article.

Regulation 2 makes provision as to the persons to whom the arrangements made for the resolution of disagreements shall apply and as to who may bring complaints.

Regulation 3 makes provision so as to enable a representative to act on behalf of the complainant.

Regulations 4 to 7 make provision as to the manner in which applications are to be made and decisions given.

Regulations 8 and 9 make provision for the arrangements made for the resolution of disagreements not to apply in certain cases.

Regulation 10 makes provision as to the maximum penalty which may be imposed by the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority in any case where the Authority are satisfied that the arrangements required by Article 50 of the Order have not been made or are not being implemented by a scheme.