15.—(1) Each person who is eligible to join this scheme pursuant to regulation 18 is included in the scheme—
(a)automatically on commencing NHS employment;
(b)subject to regulation 16, where the person has previously opted out of this scheme, on the date determined under paragraph 2 of Schedule 4. where that paragraph applies;
(c)subject to regulation 16, where the person has previously opted out of this scheme and is a person to whom section 3 or 5 of the 2008 Act applies—
(i)on that person’s automatic enrolment date; or
(ii)on that person’s automatic re-enrolment date, except where the notice referred to in paragraph 1 of Schedule 4 was given within the 12 months immediately preceding that date.
(2) A person who is included in this scheme may opt out at any time in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 4
(3) In this Chapter—
(a)“the 2008 Act” means the Pensions Act 2008(1);
(b)“the 2010 Regulations” means the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Automatic Enrolment) Regulations 2010(2).
(4) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a locum practitioner.
(5) A locum practitioner who wishes to join this scheme must make an application to the scheme manager in such form as the scheme manager requires.
(6) The application must not relate to a period of engagement which ended more than 10 weeks before the date of the application.
(7) If the scheme manager accepts an application under paragraph (5), the locum practitioner’s membership of this scheme takes effect on the date specified by the scheme manager.