The National Health Service Superannuation Scheme (Scotland) Amendment (No.2) Regulations 1997

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the National Health Service Superannuation Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 1995 (“the 1995 Regulations") by bringing registered medical practitioners on the list of a Health Board and partnerships of such practitioners within the definition of an “employing authority" and thereby enabling persons employed by them to assist in the provision of general medical services under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 to join the NHS Superannuation Scheme for Scotland. Periods of work relating solely or partly to the provision of medical services other than general medical services under the 1978 Act are not included in a member’s pensionable service (regulations 3 and 4).

Regulation C4 is amended to provide that the Secretary of State shall determine what constitutes comparable whole-time employment (regulation 5).

Regulation E3 (entitlement to early retirement pension in situations such as redundancy), and regulation E4 (entitlement to early retirement pension with the employer’s consent after a member has reached age 50) of the 1995 Regulations will not apply to persons employed by a registered medical practitioner (regulations 6 and 7).

Schedule 1 to the 1995 Regulations is amended to provide scheme membership for unapproved assistant practitioners and assistant practitioners who are participating in the Doctors’ Retainer Scheme (regulation 8).