The Occupational Pension Schemes (Deficiency on Winding Up etc.) Regulations 1996

Multi-employer schemes

4.—(1) In its application to a scheme in relation to which there is more than one employer, section 75 has effect with the following modifications.

(2) After subsection (1) insert —

“(1A) In the case of a scheme in relation to which there is more than one employer, the amount of the debt due from each employer shall, unless the scheme provides for the total amount of the debt due under subsection (1) to be otherwise apportioned amongst the employers, be such proportion of that total amount as, in the opinion of the actuary after consultation with the trustees or managers, the amount of the scheme’s liabilities attributable to employment with that employer bears to the total amount of the scheme’s liabilities attributable to employment with any of the employers.

(1B) Where a scheme in relation to which there is more than one employer is divided into two or more sections and the provisions of the scheme are such that —

(a) different sections of the scheme apply to different employers or groups of employers (whether or not more than one section applies to any particular employer or groups including any particular employer);

(b) contributions payable to the scheme by an employer, or by a member in employment under that employer, are allocated to that employer’s section (or, if more than one section applies to the employer, to the section which is appropriate in respect of the employment in question); and

(c) a specified part or proportion of the assets of the scheme is attributable to each section and cannot be used for the purposes of any other section,

each section of the scheme shall be treated as a separate scheme for the purposes of this section.

(1C) Where —

(a) a scheme which has been such a scheme as is mentioned in subsection (1B) is divided into two or more sections, some or all of which apply only to members who are not in pensionable service under the section; and

(b) the provisions of the scheme have not been amended so as to prevent the conditions mentioned in subsection (lB)(a) to (c) being satisfied in relation to two or more sections; but

(c) those conditions have ceased to be satisfied in relation to one or more sections (whether before or after this section came into force) by reason only of there being no members in pensionable service under the section and no contributions which are to be allocated to it,

the section in relation to which those conditions have ceased to be satisfied shall be treated as a separate scheme for the purposes of this section.”.

(3) For subsection (3) substitute —

“(3) In this section “the applicable time” means —

(a) in relation to a scheme which is being wound up, any time —

(i) after the commencement of the winding up, and

(ii) before a relevant insolvency event has occurred in relation to each of the employers to whom the scheme relates; and

(b) in relation to a scheme which is not being wound up —

(i) in relation only to any employer who ceases to be a person employing persons in the description or category of employment to which the scheme relates at a time when at least one other person continues to employ such persons, immediately before he so ceases, and

(ii) in relation only to any employer in relation to whom a relevant insolvency event occurs, immediately before that event occurs.”.

(4) Where (apart from this paragraph) paragraph (1) does not apply to a scheme by reason of its not being a scheme in relation to which there is more than one employer but, if it did so, subsection (1C) of section 75 (as inserted by paragraph (2)) would apply to the scheme, that section shall have effect with the modifications made by paragraphs (2) and (3).

(5) For the purposes of section 75(1A) (as inserted by paragraph (2)) —

(a) the total amount of the scheme’s liabilities which are attributable to employment with any of the employers; and

(b) the amount of the liabilities attributable to employment with any one employer,

shall be such amount as is determined, calculated and verified by the actuary in accordance with the guidance given in GN 19; and a determination under this paragraph must be certified by the actuary as being in accordance with that guidance.