EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
Article 2 of this Order in Council has the effect of extending the provisions of Part 1 of the Pensions Act 2008 and Part 1 of the Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to workers who work, or ordinarily work, in the territorial sea of the United Kingdom or the United Kingdom sector of the continental shelf, where the employment is connected with the exploration of the sea-bed or its subsoil, or the exploitation of their natural resources.
Article 3 makes provision in relation to tribunals and the criminal courts. It provides that, in Great Britain, the employment tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal and the Tribunal have jurisdiction for the purposes of the Pensions Act 2008. It also provides that, in Northern Ireland, proceedings may be brought in any place in Northern Ireland and the industrial tribunal and the Tribunal have jurisdiction, for the purposes of the Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
Article 1(2) provides that this Order is to cease to have effect eight years after it comes into force (1st July 2020). Article 5 provides that the Order continues to have effect in the specified cases.
Article 4 requires the Secretary of State to review the operation and effect of this Order and publish a report within the period of six years beginning with 1st July 2012. Following the review it will fall to the Secretary of State to consider whether the Order should be allowed to expire as article 1(2) provides, be revoked early, or continue in force with or without amendment. A further instrument would be needed to continue the Order in force with or without amendments or to revoke it early.
An assessment of the impact of this legislation on the private sector and civil society organisations has been made. A copy of this impact assessment is available in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament, and is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside the instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk. Copies may also be obtained from the Better Regulation Unit of the Department for Work and Pensions, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London SW1H 9NA, or from the DWP website: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/resourcecentre/ria.asp.