2018 No. 1039

Exiting The European Union
Friendly Societies

The Friendly Societies (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018

Sift requirements satisfied

Made

Laid before Parliament

Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1

The requirements of paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 7 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 20181 (relating to the appropriate Parliamentary procedure for these Regulations) have been satisfied.

The Treasury make these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 8(1) of that Act.

Citation and commencement1

These Regulations may be cited as the Friendly Societies (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 and come into force on exit day.

PART 1Amendment of primary legislation

Amendment of the Friendly Societies Act 19922

The Friendly Societies Act 19922 is amended as set out in this Part.

Amendment of section 52 (applications to court)3

In section 52 (applications to court), in subsection (2)(c)3, omit the words “other than the United Kingdom”.

Amendment of section 72 (auditors’ appointment, tenure, qualifications, etc)4

In section 72 (auditors’ appointment, tenure, qualifications, etc), in subsection (3)4, for the words “to which the Audit Directive applies” substitute “subject to special requirements”.

Amendment of section 74 (signature of auditor’s report)5

In section 74 (signature of auditor’s report)5, in subsection (3)(a), for the words “to which the Audit Directive applies” substitute “subject to special requirements”.

Amendment of section 74A (senior statutory auditor)6

In section 74A (senior statutory auditor)6, in subsection (2)(a), for the words “to which the Audit Directive applies” substitute “subject to special requirements”.

Amendment of section 78A (interpretation of Part 6)7

In section 78A (interpretation of Part 6)7

a

in subsection (1)8, omit the definition of “the Audit Directive”;

b

in subsection (3)9

i

in the words before paragraph (a), for the words “to which the Audit Directive applies” substitute “subject to special requirements” and omit “is” at the end;

ii

in paragraph (a), insert “would be” before “an insurance undertaking” and after “insurance undertakings” insert “were the United Kingdom a member State”; and

iii

in paragraph (b), insert “is” before “an issuer”.

Amendment of section 86 (transfer of engagements by or to friendly society)8

In section 86 (transfer of engagements by or to friendly society), in subsection (12)10

a

at the end of paragraph (a), omit the word “or”;

b

omit paragraph (b).

Amendment of section 87 (actuary’s report as to margin of solvency)9

In section 87 (actuary’s report as to margin of solvency), in subsection (2), for paragraph (a)11 substitute—

a

the fulfilment of any of the engagements to be transferred will constitute the carrying on of insurance business in the United Kingdom, and

Amendment of section 88 (actuary’s report on transfer of long term business)10

In section 88 (actuary’s report on transfer of long term business), in subsection (1), for paragraph (a)12 substitute—

a

a friendly society (“a transferor society”) proposes to transfer to any person engagements the fulfilment of which will constitute the carrying on of long term business in the United Kingdom; or

Amendment of section 117 (insurance business etc)11

In section 117 (insurance business etc), omit subsections (6)13, (7)14 and (9)15.

Amendment of section 119 (general interpretation)12

In section 119 (general interpretation)—

a

in subsection (1)—

i

in the definition of “manager”16, in paragraph (b), for “a member State” substitute “the United Kingdom”;

ii

omit the definition of “supervisory authority”17;

b

omit subsection (1C)18.

Amendment of Schedule 14 (auditors: appointment, tenure, qualifications and remuneration)13

In Schedule 14 (auditors: appointment, tenure, qualifications and remuneration)—

a

in the italic heading before paragraph 3A19, for the words “to which the Audit Directive applies” substitute “in relation to friendly societies subject to special requirements”;

b

in paragraph 3A(1) (appointment as auditor), for the words “to which the Audit Directive applies” substitute “subject to special requirements”;

c

in paragraph 10A(1)20 (removal of auditor on improper grounds), for the words “to which the Audit Directive applies” substitute “subject to special requirements”.

Amendment of Schedule 14A (appointment and removal of auditors: societies to which audit directive applies)14

In Schedule 14A21 (appointment and removal of auditors: societies to which audit directive applies)—

a

in the heading, for the words “to which Audit Directive applies” substitute “subject to special requirements”;

b

in paragraph 1(1) (introductory), for the words “to which the Audit Directive applies” substitute “subject to special requirements”;

c

in paragraph 7 (interpretation)—

i

the existing text becomes sub-paragraph (1);

ii

in that sub-paragraph, for the definition of “audit committee”, substitute—

  • “audit committee” means a body which performs—

    1. a

      the functions referred to in—

      1. i

        rule 7.1.3 of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook22 made by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Financial Services and Markets Act 200023; or

      2. ii

        rule 2.4 of the Audit Committee Part of the Rulebook24 made by the Prudential Regulation Authority under that Act; or

    2. b

      equivalent functions;

iii

after that sub-paragraph, insert—

2

For the purposes of the definition of “audit committee”, references to rules made by the Prudential Regulation Authority or the Financial Conduct Authority are to those rules as they have effect on exit day.

Amendment of Schedule 15 (amalgamations, transfers of engagements and conversion: supplementary)15

1

Schedule 15 (amalgamations, transfers of engagements and conversion: supplementary) is amended as follows.

2

In paragraph 6—

a

omit sub-paragraph (1A)25;

b

in sub-paragraph (3)(b)26, omit the word “and” at the end of sub-paragraph (i) and sub-paragraph (ii).

3

In paragraph 1127, omit the word “or” at the end of paragraph (a) and paragraph (b).

4

In paragraph 1528

a

omit sub-paragraph (1)(c)(ii)29 and (iii)30;

b

in sub-paragraph (1)(c)(vi)31, for the words from “required to” to the end substitute “supervised in accordance with rule 3.1 to 3.3 and rule 6.4 and 6.5 of the Third Country Branches Part of the Rulebook made by the Prudential Regulation Authority under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.”;

c

after sub-paragraph (1) insert—

1A

For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(c)(vi), references to rules made by the Prudential Regulation Authority are to those rules as they have effect on exit day.

d

in sub-paragraph (2)—

i

at the end of paragraph (b)32 insert “and”;

ii

at the end of paragraph (c) omit the word “and”;

iii

omit paragraph (d)33;

e

omit sub-paragraph (3)34;

f

omit sub-paragraph (6)(a)35.

5

In paragraph 15A36

a

omit sub-paragraph (1)(c)(ii)37 and (iii)38;

b

in sub-paragraph (1)(c)(v)39, for the words from “required to” to the end substitute “supervised in accordance with rule 3.1 to 3.3 and rule 6.4 and 6.5 of the Third Country Branches Part of the Rulebook made by the Prudential Regulation Authority under the Financial Services and Markets Act 200040.”;

c

after sub-paragraph (1) insert—

1A

For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(c)(v), references to rules made by the Prudential Regulation Authority are to those rules as they have effect on exit day.

d

in sub-paragraph (2)41, omit the word “and” at the end of paragraph (b) and paragraph (c);

e

omit sub-paragraph (3)42;

f

omit sub-paragraph (6)(a)43.

6

Omit the italic heading before paragraph 16A (rights of policy holders) and paragraphs 16A44 and 16B45.

7

Omit paragraph 18(1)46 (interpretation).

PART 2Amendment of subordinate legislation

Amendment of the Friendly Societies (Accounts and Related Provisions) Regulations 199416

In the Friendly Societies (Accounts and Related Provisions) Regulations 199447, in Schedule 4 (notes to annual accounts)48, for paragraph 28(1) substitute—

1

Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, there must be disclosed as regards both general and long term business the total gross direct insurance premiums resulting from contracts concluded by the society in the United Kingdom and other countries.

Rebecca HarrisPaul MaynardTwo of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury
EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations are made in exercise of the powers in section 8(1) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c.16) in order to address failures of retained EU law to operate effectively and other deficiencies (in particular under paragraphs (d), (e) and (g) of section 8(2) of the Act) arising from the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

These Regulations make amendments to legislation in the field of friendly societies and, in particular, amend legislation relating to friendly societies’ accounts and auditing requirements, and amalgamations and transfers of engagements. Part 1 amends primary legislation and Part 2 amends subordinate legislation.

These Regulations refer to the Rulebook made by the Prudential Regulation Authority under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c.8). The Rulebook is available on http://www.prarulebook.co.uk and copies of the rules referred to can be obtained from the Prudential Regulation Authority, 20 Moorgate, London EC2R 6DA, where they are also available for inspection.

These Regulations also refer to a sourcebook made by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Sourcebooks made by the Financial Conduct Authority are available on https://www.handbook.fca.org.uk/handbook and copies of the rules referred to can be obtained from the Financial Conduct Authority, 12 Endeavour Square, London E20 1JN, where they are also available for inspection.

An impact assessment of the effect that this instrument, and certain other instruments made by HM Treasury under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector is available from HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ and is published alongside this instrument at www.legislation.gov.uk.