The Pensions (Polish Forces) Scheme (Extension) Order 2007

Statutory Instruments

2007 No. 645

PENSIONS

The Pensions (Polish Forces) Scheme (Extension) Order 2007

Made

27th February 2007

Coming into force

27th March 2007

The Secretary of State, with the consent of the Treasury, makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 1 of the Polish Resettlement Act 1947(1) and now vested in him(2), and of all other powers enabling him to do so:—

Citation, interpretation and commencement

1.  This Order, which may be cited as the Pensions (Polish Forces) Scheme (Extension) Order 2007 shall be read as one with the Pensions (Polish Forces) Scheme 1964(3), (referred to here as “the Scheme”) and shall come into force on 27th March 2007.

Extension of the Scheme

2.  For the purposes of Article 14(1) of the Scheme (duration of the Scheme) the extended period of thirty years from and including 27th March 2007 is now specified, and accordingly payments under the Scheme shall be limited to such as fall due for payment before 27th March 2037.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Defence

Derek Twigg

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Ministry of Defence

26th February 2007

We consent

Dave Watts

Alan Campbell

Two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury

27th February 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

The Pensions (Polish Forces) Scheme, which makes provision for payment of pensions to former members of the Polish Forces who served under British command during World War II, or in the Polish Resettlement Forces, is of limited duration because it was originally envisaged that the Polish Government would at some time assume responsibility for payment of the pensions. This still remains unlikely and the present Scheme, which expires on 26th March 2007, is extended by this Extension Order for a further period of thirty years from 27th March 2007 to 26th March 2037.

This Order does not impose any costs on business.

(1)

1947 c.19.

(2)

The functions of the Minister of Pensions were transferred to the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance by virtue of the Transfer of Functions (Ministry of Pensions) Order 1953, S.I. 1953/1198, article 2. The functions of the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance were transferred to the Minister of Social Security by virtue of the Ministry of Social Security Act 1966, (c.20), section 2. The functions of the Minister of Social Security were transferred to the Secretary of State by virtue of the Secretary of State for Social Services Order 1968, S.I. 1968/1699, article 2.

(3)

S.I. 1964/2007, as amended by S.I. 1972/1435, 1974/1045 and 2005/3040. The Scheme was extended by S.I. 1967/293, 1972/95, 1981/1876, 1992/317, 1997/662 and 2002/671.