F2“authorised insurer” means—

1. i

   a person who has permission under Part 4 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to effect or carry out contracts of long-term insurance, or

2. ii

   an EEA firm of the kind mentioned in paragraph 5(d) of Schedule 3 to that Act, which has permission under paragraph 15 of that Schedule (as a result of qualifying for authorisation under paragraph 12 of that Schedule) to effect or carry out contracts of long-term insurance;

• “disregarded service”, in relation to any member of a scheme, means any period of service in judicial office during which an election under section 14A(9) above is in force in respect of the qualifying member;

• “normal pension age” means the earliest age at which, if his service had continued until retirement at that age, a member of a scheme might have been entitled to receive a pension under the scheme;

• “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations;

• “protected rights” has the same meaning as in the F3the Pension Schemes Act 1993 and, in relation to Northern Ireland, the F4the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993;

• “qualifying member” means a person to whom Part II of this Schedule applies;

• “qualifying service” means the service, or relevant service, by reference to which a qualifying member’s entitlement to benefit under the scheme is calculated; and

• “scheme” means the relevant occupational pension scheme constituted by this Act or the Sheriffs’ Pensions (Scotland) Act M11961.