Search Legislation

Advanced Search

The Pensions Dashboards Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023

Help about what version

What Version

Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes over time for: CHAPTER 1

Help about opening options

Version Superseded: 08/12/2023

Alternative versions:

Status:

Point in time view as at 09/08/2023.

Changes to legislation:

There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to The Pensions Dashboards Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.

CHAPTER 1N.I.Requirements relating to cooperation and connection

Cooperation – trustees or managersN.I.

14.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), trustees or managers must comply with the requirement specified in paragraph (3) from 13th December 2022.

(2) Trustees or managers of a pension scheme which is not covered by the [F1regulation 15(1)] , but who are granted permission to connect that scheme to the Money and Pensions Service on a voluntary basis under regulation 16(1)(b), must comply with the requirement specified in paragraph (3) from the day after the date on which that permission is granted.

(3) The requirement is to cooperate with the Money and Pensions Service to assist with the exercise of its functions in relation to pensions dashboard services, including providing information in accordance with service standards and operational standards published from time to time by the Money and Pensions Service.

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I1Reg. 14 in operation at 10.6.2023, see reg. 1

Connection according to the [F2connection deadline] N.I.

15.—(1) Trustees or managers of a pension scheme which exists at the reference date and which has 100 or more relevant members at the reference date must—

(a)register the scheme with the Money and Pensions Service, having regard to the guidance referred to in paragraph (2)(d), and

(b)meet the requirements in paragraphs (2), (4) and (5).

(2) Unless a different deadline for connecting to the Money and Pensions Service already applies pursuant to regulationF3... 17, 19 or 20, trustees or managers must connect the pension scheme to the Money and Pensions Service—

F4(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F6(aa)by no later than the connection deadline;]

(c)in compliance with—

(i)connection and security standards, and

(ii)technical standards,

published from time to time by the Money and Pensions Service;

(d)having regard to guidance on connection issued from time to time [F7the Department,] by the Money and Pensions Service and the Regulator either separately or [F8by at least 2 of them] jointly.

F9(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) Trustees or managers must keep a record of how they have carried out the steps set out in the guidance on connection referred to in paragraph (2)(d), or of alternative steps they have taken in order to comply with the requirements in this Part on connecting their pension scheme to the Money and Pensions Service, for at least 6 years from the end of the scheme year to which they relate.

(5) Trustees or managers must do the following—

(a)notify the Money and Pensions Service without delay of any of the following, in compliance with service standards and operational standards published from time to time by the Money and Pensions Service—

(i)connection state changes, such as downtime (whether scheduled or unscheduled) or maintenance;

(ii)systemic issues, such as cyber-attacks that could affect the security of the dashboards ecosystem;

(b)notify the Money and Pensions Service of any change in connection arrangements.

[F10(6) The connection deadline that applies to a pension scheme under paragraph (2)(aa) remains fixed, unless—

(a)the deadline changes pursuant to regulation 17, 19 or 20, or

(b)all the members of the scheme become pensioner members.]

(7) Once a scheme has connected to the Money and Pensions Service, trustees or managers must use every endeavour to ensure that the scheme remains connected at all times.

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I2Reg. 15 in operation at 10.6.2023, see reg. 1

[F11Voluntary connection] N.I.

16.—(1) Where trustees or managers—

F12(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)wish to connect a pension scheme to the Money and Pensions Service on a voluntary basis in circumstances where the scheme has fewer than 100 relevant members,

they must apply to the Money and Pensions Service for permission for the pension scheme to connect to the Money and Pensions ServiceF13... on a voluntary basis.

(2) When applying for permission to connect under paragraph (1), trustees or managers must have regard to guidance onF14... voluntary connection issued from time to time by the Money and Pensions Service.

(3) Subject to consultation with the Regulator, except where the Money and Pensions Service and the Regulator agree that such consultation is not needed, the Money and Pensions Service may grant permission forF15... voluntary connection by such a date as the Money and Pensions Service considers appropriate (referred to in this regulation as the “agreed deadline”).

(4) Where permission is granted forF16... voluntary connection under paragraph (3)—

(a)the agreed deadline remains fixed, F17... unless—

(i)permission to defer connection is given under regulation 17, or

(ii)all the members of the scheme become pensioner [F18members.]

F19(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) Once permission to connectF20... on a voluntary basis has been granted under paragraph (4), trustees or managers must—

(a)register the scheme with the Money and Pensions Service, having regard to the guidance referred to in regulation 15(2)(d);

(b)connect the pension scheme to the Money and Pensions Service [F21by no later than the agreed deadline] , in compliance with the standards referred to in regulation 15(2)(c) and having regard to the guidance referred to in regulation 15(2)(d);

(c)meet the requirements in regulation 15(4) and (5).

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I3Reg. 16 in operation at 10.6.2023, see reg. 1

Deferred connectionN.I.

17.—(1) Where the trustees or managers wish to defer the [F22connection deadline that applies to a pension scheme by virtue of regulation 15(2)(aa)] , they may apply to the Department for permission to do this if—

F23(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F24(aa)no more than 12 months has passed since 9th August 2023;]

(b)a deferral has not been permitted in respect of the pension scheme [F25previously]

F26(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) If applying to defer the [F27connection deadline that] that applies to a pension scheme, trustees or managers must—

F28(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F29(aa)submit evidence to demonstrate that at least one of the following conditions applies—

(i)that before 9th August 2023, they had embarked on a programme to transfer the data held by the pension scheme to a new administrator;

(ii)that before 9th August 2023, they had entered into a contract containing an obligation to retender the administration of the scheme, and that the timetable for this is reasonable and conflicts with the connection deadline;]

(b)submit evidence to demonstrate that complying with the [F30connection deadline] —

(i)would be disproportionately burdensome, or

(ii)would put the personal data of members at risk;

(c)set out the steps being taken to ensure that the pension scheme can connect to the Money and Pensions Service at the earliest opportunity.

(3) The Department, following consultation with the Regulator and with the Money and Pensions Service, may by notice—

(a)grant permission to defer the [F31connection deadline] until such a date within 12 months of the staging deadline as the Department considers appropriate (referred to in this regulation as the “agreed deadline”), or

(b)refuse to grant permission to defer the [F31connection deadline] .

[F32(4) Where permission is granted to defer the connection deadline under paragraph (3)(a), the agreed deadline remains fixed, unless all the members of the scheme become pensioner members.]

(5) Once permission has been granted to defer the [F33connection deadline] under paragraph (3)(a), trustees or managers must—

(a)register the scheme with the Money and Pensions Service, having regard to the guidance referred to in regulation 15(2)(d);

(b)connect the pension scheme to the Money and Pensions Service [F34by no later than the agreed deadline] , in compliance with the standards referred to in regulation 15(2)(c) and having regard to the guidance referred to in regulation 15(2)(d);

(c)meet the requirements in regulation 15(4) and (5).

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I4Reg. 17 in operation at 10.6.2023, see reg. 1

[F35Connection for new or growing schemes] N.I.

18.—(1) If—

[F36(a)a pension scheme does not exist at the reference date or has fewer than 100 relevant members at the reference date, but is established (if it did not exist previously) and has 100 or more relevant members at a scheme year end date on or after 1st April 2024, and]

(b)the trustees or managers have not been granted permission for the scheme to connect on a voluntary basis under regulation 16,

then the deadline for connecting to the Money and Pensions Service is as provided for in paragraph (2).

(2) The deadline is whichever is the later of the following—

(a)6 months from the end of the scheme year in which the scheme first exists and has 100 or more relevant members, or

[F37(b)the connection deadline that applies to a scheme which is covered by regulation 15(1).]

F38(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F39(4) Once a deadline applies pursuant to paragraph (2), that deadline remains fixed, unless—

(a)permission to defer connection is given under regulation 17, or

(b)all the members of the scheme become pensioner members.]

(5) Trustees or managers must—

(a)register the scheme with the Money and Pensions Service, having regard to the guidance referred to in regulation 15(2)(d);

(b)connect the pension scheme to the Money and Pensions Service [F40by no later than the deadline pursuant to paragraph (2)] , in compliance with the standards referred to in regulation 15(2)(c) and having regard to the guidance referred to in regulation 15(2)(d);

(c)meet the requirements in regulation 15(4) and (5).

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I5Reg. 18 in operation at 10.6.2023, see reg. 1

Connection where these Regulations cease to apply and then apply againN.I.

19.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies in cases where—

(a)Parts 3 and 4 cease to apply to trustees or managers of a pension scheme, on account of an exception in regulation 3(4)(a), (b) or (c) applying, and

(b)Parts 3 and 4 subsequently apply again to those trustees or managers, on account of an exception in regulation 3(4)(a), (b) or (c) no longer applying (referred to in this regulation as the scheme “coming back into scope of the Regulations”).

(2) On coming back into scope of the Regulations, the deadline for connecting to the Money and Pensions Service is to be whichever is the later of the following—

(a)6 months from the end of the scheme year end in which the scheme comes back into scope, or

(b)the deadline for connecting to the Money and Pensions Service that applied previously, under whichever of regulation 15 to 18 or 20 is relevant in the circumstances.

[F41(3) Once a deadline applies pursuant to paragraph (2), the deadline remains fixed, unless—

(a)permission to defer connection is given under regulation 17 (in which case the rules in that provision apply instead), or

(b)all the members of the scheme become pensioner members.]

(4) Trustees or managers must—

(a)register the scheme with the Money and Pensions Service, having regard to the guidance referred to in regulation 15(2)(d);

(b)connect the pension scheme to the Money and Pensions Service [F42by no later than the deadline pursuant to paragraph (2)] , in compliance with the standards referred to in regulation 15(2)(c) and having regard to the guidance referred to in regulation 15(2)(d);

(c)meet the requirements in regulation 15(4) and (5).

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I6Reg. 19 in operation at 10.6.2023, see reg. 1

Connection affected by an assessment periodN.I.

20.—(1) If an assessment period in relation to a pension scheme begins before the scheme has connected to the Money and Pensions Service—

(a)trustees or managers are not required to connect the scheme to the Money and Pensions Service before the assessment period ends, and

(b)if, when the assessment period ends, the scheme continues to function as a pension scheme, the deadline for connecting to the Money and Pensions Service is whichever is the later of the following—

(i)6 months beginning with the day after the date on which the assessment period ends, or

(ii)the deadline for connecting to the Money and Pensions Service that applied previously, under whichever of regulations 15 to 19 is relevant in the circumstances.

[F43(2) Once a deadline applies pursuant to paragraph (1)(b), the deadline remains fixed, unless—

(a)permission to defer connection is given under regulation 17, or

(b)all the members of the scheme become pensioner members.]

(3) Trustees or managers must—

(a)register the scheme with the Money and Pensions Service, having regard to the guidance referred to in regulation 15(2)(d);

(b)connect the pension scheme to the Money and Pensions Service [F44by no later than the deadline pursuant to paragraph (1)(b)] , in compliance with the standards referred to in regulation 15(2)(c) and having regard to the guidance referred to in regulation 15(2)(d);

(c)meet the requirements in regulation 15(4) and (5).

(4) If an assessment period in relation to a section of a scheme or a segregated part of a scheme begins before the scheme has connected to the Money and Pensions Service, this does not affect the requirement for the scheme to connect to the Money and Pensions Service unless all the sections or segregated parts of the scheme are subject to the assessment period.

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I7Reg. 20 in operation at 10.6.2023, see reg. 1

Notification of disconnectionN.I.

21.  The trustees or managers of a pension scheme which disconnects from the Money and Pensions Service must notify the Money and Pensions Service as soon as possible.

Commencement Information

I8Reg. 21 in operation at 10.6.2023, see reg. 1

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

Explanatory Memorandum

Explanatory Memorandum sets out a brief statement of the purpose of a Statutory Rule and provides information about its policy objective and policy implications. They aim to make the Statutory Rule accessible to readers who are not legally qualified and accompany any Northern Ireland Statutory Rule or Draft Northern Ireland Statutory Rule laid before the UK Parliament during the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as made version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources