The Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment, and Assignment, Forfeiture, Bankruptcy etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations amend regulations made under the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (“the Order”) in relation to occupational pensions schemes.

Regulation 1 relates to citation and commencement.

Regulation 2 and 3 amend, respectively, the Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 and the Occupational Pension Schemes (Assignment, Forfeiture, Bankrupty etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997. They amend provisions governing the schemes and investments to which restrictions on employer-related investment do not apply, in particular in relation to small schemes and loans to employers (regulations 2(2) and (3) and 3).

Regulation 2(4) inserts, in relation to trust schemes, provision as to matters to be included in the statement of investment principles required under Article 35 of the Order. The statement must, in addition to the matters mentioned in Article 35, cover the extent to which social, environmental or ethical considerations are taken into account in investment decision making, and any policy the trustees have relating to the exercise of rights attaching to investments.

As these Regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in regulations made by the Secretary of State for Social Security in relation to Great Britain, the requirement for consultation under Article 117(1) of the Order does not apply by virtue of paragraph (2)(e) of that Article.