The Judicial Pensions (Remediable Service etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

Citation, commencement and extent

1.  These Regulations—

(a) may be cited as the Judicial Pensions (Remediable Service etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2024;

(b) come into force on the day after the day on which they are made;

(c) extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Amendment of the Judicial Pensions Regulations 2015

2.—(1) The Judicial Pensions Regulations 2015(1) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation) for the definition of “active member”(2) substitute—

“”active member”, in relation to this scheme, means a person who is in pensionable service under this scheme;”.

(3) After regulation 36 (application of chapter), insert—

“Purported transfer value payment

36A.   In this Chapter, “purported transfer value payment” means a payment—

(a) which was made by either—

(i) a person “P” who has remediable service(3) in a judicial office; or

(ii) a relevant fee-paid judge(4) who has relevant service in a judicial office;

(b) which was intended to be a transfer value payment; and

(c) which was not a transfer value payment due to—

(i) a determination by a court or tribunal that, as a result of a non-discrimination rule(5), any person has rights under a judicial legacy scheme in respect of P’s remediable service;

(ii) an agreement between the scheme manager of a judicial legacy scheme and any person that, as a result of a non-discrimination rule, the person has any rights under the scheme in respect of P’s remediable service; or

(iii) the payment being made in relation to a relevant fee-paid judge.”.

(4) For regulation 38A (accrued earned pension attributable to a transfer value payment where a legacy scheme election is made) substitute—

“Transfer value payment or purported transfer value payment in respect of judges with remediable service

38A.— (1) Paragraph (2) applies where—

(a) a person “P” has remediable service in a judicial office;

(b) one or more purported transfer value payments were made in relation to P during the period of remediable service;

(c) an immediate detriment remedy(6) has been obtained in relation to the period of remediable service; and

(d) no payment has been made to P, or to another pension scheme on behalf of P, of a value which represents the full value of P’s purported transfer value payments (as referred to in sub-paragraph (b)).

(2) The purported transfer value payments referred to in paragraph (1)(b) are to be treated as having been received by this scheme and P is to be treated as an active member of this scheme for all purposes in connection with the purported transfer value payments.

(3) Paragraph (4) applies where—

(a) a person “P” has remediable service in a judicial office;

(b) one or more transfer value payments have been received by this scheme in relation to P during the period of remediable service; and

(c) a legacy scheme election under section 40 of PSPJOA 2022 is made in respect of P.

(4) P is to be treated as an active member of this scheme for all purposes in connection with the transfer value payments referred to in paragraph (3)(b).”.

(5) For regulation 38B (accrued earned pension attributable to a transfer value payment in respect of relevant fee-paid judges) substitute—

“Purported transfer value payment in respect of relevant fee-paid judges

38B.— (1) Paragraph (2) applies where—

(a) a relevant fee-paid judge “R” has relevant service in a judicial office; and

(b) one or more purported transfer value payments were made in relation to R during the period of relevant service.

(2) The purported transfer value payments referred to in paragraph (1)(b) are to be treated as having been received by this scheme and R is to be treated as an active member of this scheme for all purposes in connection with the purported transfer value payments.”.

(6) In Schedule 1 (payments for extra pension)—

(a) in paragraph 1 (interpretation), after the definition of “period of service”, insert—

““purported added pension payment” means a payment—

(a)

which was made by either—

(i)

a person “P” who has remediable service in a judicial office; or

(ii)

a relevant fee-paid judge who has relevant service in a judicial office;

(b)

which was intended to be an added pension payment under this Part; and

(c)

which was not an added pension payment under this Part due to—

(i)

a determination by a court or tribunal that, as a result of a non-discrimination rule, any person has rights under a judicial legacy scheme in respect of P’s remediable service;

(ii)

an agreement between the scheme manager of a judicial legacy scheme and any person that, as a result of a non-discrimination rule, the person has any rights under the scheme in respect of P’s remediable service; or

(iii)

the payment being made in relation to a relevant fee-paid judge;”;

(b) for paragraph 23A (added pension in respect of judges with remediable service) substitute—

“Added pension payment or purported added pension payment in respect of judges with remediable service

23A.— (1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where—

(a) a person “P” has remediable service in a judicial office;

(b) one or more purported added pension payments were made by P during the period of remediable service;

(c) an immediate detriment remedy has been obtained in relation to the period of remediable service;

(d) the notification period in relation to P under regulation 14(2) of the 2023 Regulations has passed;

(e) a request has not been made in respect of P under regulation 24 of the 2023 Regulations; and

(f) no payment has been made to P of a value which represents the full value of P’s purported added pension payments (as referred to in paragraph (b)).

(2) The purported added pension payments referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(b) are to be treated as having been received by this scheme and P is to be treated as an active member of this scheme for all purposes in connection with the purported added pension payments.

(3) Sub-paragraph (4) applies where—

(a) a person “P” has remediable service in a judicial office;

(b) P made one or more added pension payments during the period of remediable service;

(c) a legacy scheme election under section 40 of PSPJOA 2022 is made in respect of P;

(d) the election period in relation to P under section 69(1) of PSPJOA 2022 has passed; and

(e) a request has not been made in respect of P under regulation 8 of the 2023 Regulations.

(4) P is to be treated as an active member of this scheme for all purposes in connection with the added pension payments referred to in sub-paragraph (3)(b).”;

(c) for paragraph 23B (added pension in respect of relevant fee-paid judges) substitute—

“Purported added pension in respect of relevant fee-paid judges

23B.— (1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where—

(a) a relevant fee-paid judge “R” has relevant service in a judicial office;

(b) one or more purported added pension payments were made by R during the period of relevant service;

(c) the notification period in relation to R under regulation 30(2)(b) of the 2023 Regulations has passed; and

(d) a request has not been made in respect of R under regulation 40 of the 2023 Regulations.

(2) The purported added pension payments referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(b) are to be treated as having been received by this scheme and R is to be treated as having been an active member of this scheme for all purposes in connection with the purported added pension payments.”.

Amendment of the Judicial Pensions (Remediable Service etc.) Regulations 2023

3.—(1) The Judicial Pensions (Remediable Service etc.) Regulations 2023(7) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation) after the definition of “Judicial Pension Board” insert—

““purported added pension payment” has the meaning given in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the 2015 Regulations;

“purported effective pension age payment” means a payment—

(a)

which was made by either—

(i)

a person “P” who has remediable service in a judicial office, or

(ii)

a relevant fee-paid judge who has relevant service in a judicial office,

(b)

which was intended to be an effective pension age payment under Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the 2015 Regulations, and

(c)

which was not in fact an effective pension age payment under Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the 2015 Regulations due to—

(i)

a determination by a court or tribunal that, as a result of a non-discrimination rule, any person has rights under a judicial legacy scheme in respect of P’s remediable service,

(ii)

an agreement between the scheme manager of a judicial legacy scheme and any person that, as a result of a non-discrimination rule, the person has any rights under the scheme in respect of P’s remediable service, or

(iii)

the payment being made in relation to a relevant fee-paid judge;

“purported special payment” means a payment—

(a)

which was made by either—

(i)

a person “P” who has remediable service in a judicial office, or

(ii)

a relevant fee-paid judge who has relevant service in a judicial office,

(b)

which was intended to be a special payment under regulation 74(3)(a) or (c) of the 2015 Regulations, and

(c)

which was not in fact a special payment under regulation 74(3)(a) or (c) due to—

(i)

a determination by a court or tribunal that, as a result of a non-discrimination rule, any person has rights under a judicial legacy scheme in respect of P’s remediable service,

(ii)

an agreement between the scheme manager of a judicial legacy scheme and any person that, as a result of a non-discrimination rule, the person has any rights under the scheme in respect of P’s remediable service, or

(iii)

the payment being made in relation to a relevant fee-paid judge;”.

(3) In regulation 18 (partial retirement notice)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(a), for “exercised” substitute “purported to exercise”;

(b) in paragraph (3), before “exercise” insert “purported”.

(4) In regulation 19 (effect of immediate detriment remedy on benefits previously paid or payable)—

(a) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in the opening words, for “benefits (“the paid benefits”) that the 2015 scheme has at any time paid” substitute “payments purporting to be benefits that the 2015 scheme has at any time paid (“the purported benefits”)”;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (b)—

(aa) for “benefits” substitute “payments”;

(bb) after “receive”, insert “as benefits”;

(b) in paragraph (2) for “The paid benefits”, substitute “The purported benefits”;

(c) in paragraph (3)—

(i) in the opening words, for “benefits (“the paid benefits”) that the 2015 scheme has at any time paid” substitute “payments purporting to be benefits that the 2015 scheme has at any time paid (“the purported benefits”)”;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (b)—

(aa) for “benefits” substitute “payments”;

(bb) after “receive”, insert “as benefits”;

(d) in paragraph (4) for “The paid benefits”, substitute “The purported benefits”.

(5) In regulation 20 (effect of immediate detriment remedy on pension contributions previously paid or payable)—

(a) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in the opening words, for “paid any pension contributions (“the paid contributions”) under the 2015 scheme” substitute “made any payments purporting to be pension contributions under the 2015 scheme (“the purported contributions”)”;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (b) for “P was not required to pay to the 2015 scheme”, substitute “were not payments that P was required to make under the 2015 scheme”;

(b) in paragraph (2) for “The paid contributions”, substitute “The purported contributions”;

(c) in paragraph (3)—

(i) in the opening words, for “paid any pension contributions (“the paid contributions”) under the 2015 scheme” substitute “made any payments purporting to be pension contributions under the 2015 scheme (“the purported contributions”)”;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (b) for “P was not required to pay to the 2015 scheme”, substitute “were not payments that P was required to make under the 2015 scheme”;

(d) in paragraph (4) for “The paid contributions”, substitute “The purported contributions”.

(6) In regulation 23 (compensation for special payments to buy out early payment reduction)—

(a) immediately before “special payments”, in each place it occurs (including in the heading), insert “purported”;

(b) in paragraph (1) omit “under regulation 74(3)(a) or (c) of the 2015 Regulations”;

(c) in paragraph (2)—

(i) for “The rights” substitute “For the avoidance of doubt, any rights”;

(ii) after “payments” insert “, had P been entitled to make them,”;

(d) in paragraph (3)(b)—

(i) for “was” substitute “would have been”;

(ii) at the end, insert “had P been entitled to make them”.

(7) In regulation 24 (compensation for payments for added pension)—

(a) immediately before “added pension”, in each place it occurs (including in the heading), insert “purported”;

(b) in paragraph (1)(a), omit “under Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the 2015 Regulations”;

(c) in paragraph (2)(a)—

(i) for “the rights” substitute “for the avoidance of doubt, any rights”;

(ii) after “payments” insert “, had P been entitled to make them,”;

(d) in paragraph (2)(b)(ii)—

(i) for “was” substitute “would have been”;

(ii) at the end, insert “had P been entitled to make them”.

(8) In regulation 25 (compensation for effective pension age payments)—

(a) immediately before “effective pension age payments”, in each place it occurs (including in the heading), insert “purported”;

(b) in paragraph (1), omit “under Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the 2015 Regulations”;

(c) in paragraph (2)—

(i) for “The rights” substitute “For the avoidance of doubt, any rights”;

(ii) after “payments” insert “, had P been entitled to make them,”;

(d) in paragraph (3)(b)—

(i) for “was” substitute “would have been”;

(ii) at the end, insert “had P been entitled to make them”.

(9) In regulation 35 (benefits previously paid or payable)—

(a) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in the opening words, for “benefits (“the paid benefits”) that the 2015 scheme has at any time paid” substitute “payments purporting to be benefits that the 2015 scheme has at any time paid (“the purported benefits”)”;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (b)—

(aa) for “benefits” substitute “payments”;

(bb) after “receive”, insert “as benefits”;

(b) in paragraph (2) for “The paid benefits”, substitute “The purported benefits”;

(c) in paragraph (3)—

(i) in the opening words, for “benefits (“the paid benefits”) that the 2015 scheme has at any time paid” substitute “payments purporting to be benefits that the 2015 scheme has at any time paid (“the purported benefits”)”;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (b)—

(aa) for “benefits” substitute “payments”;

(bb) after “receive”, insert “as benefits”;

(d) in paragraph (4) for “The paid benefits”, substitute “The purported benefits”.

(10) In regulation 36 (pension contributions previously paid or payable)—

(a) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in the opening words, for “paid any pension contributions (“the paid contributions”) under the 2015 scheme” substitute “made any payments purporting to be pension contributions under the 2015 scheme (“the purported contributions”)”;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (b), at the beginning, insert “were payments which,”;

(b) in paragraph (2) for “The paid contributions”, substitute “The purported contributions”;

(c) in paragraph (3)—

(i) in the opening words, for “paid any pension contributions (“the paid contributions”) under the 2015 scheme” substitute “made any payments purporting to be pension contributions under the 2015 scheme (“the purported contributions”)”;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (b), at the beginning, insert “were payments which,”;

(d) in paragraph (4) for “The paid contributions”, substitute “The purported contributions”.

(11) In regulation 39 (compensation for special payments to buy out early payment reduction)—

(a) immediately before “special payments”, in each place it occurs (including in the heading), insert “purported”;

(b) in paragraph (1) omit “under regulation 74(3)(a) or (c) of the 2015 Regulations”;

(c) in paragraph (2)—

(i) for “The rights” substitute “For the avoidance of doubt, any rights”;

(ii) after “payments” insert “, had R been entitled to make them,”;

(d) in paragraph (3)(b)—

(i) for “was” substitute “would have been”;

(ii) at the end, insert “had R been entitled to make them”.

(12) In regulation 40 (compensation for payments for added pension)—

(a) immediately before “added pension”, in each place it occurs (including in the heading), insert “purported”;

(b) in paragraph (1)(a), omit “under Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the 2015 Regulations”;

(c) in paragraph (2)(a)—

(i) for “the rights” substitute “for the avoidance of doubt, any rights”;

(ii) after “payments” insert “, had R been entitled to make them,”;

(d) in paragraph (2)(b)(ii)—

(i) for “was” substitute “would have been”;

(ii) at the end, insert “had R been entitled to make them”.

(13) In regulation 41 (compensation for effective pension age payments)—

(a) immediately before “effective pension age payments”, in each place it occurs (including in the heading), insert “purported”;

(b) in paragraph (1), omit “under Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the 2015 Regulations”;

(c) in paragraph (2)—

(i) for “The rights” substitute “For the avoidance of doubt, any rights”;

(ii) after “payments” insert “, had R been entitled to make them,”;

(d) in paragraph (3)(b)—

(i) for “was” substitute “would have been”;

(ii) at the end, insert “had R been entitled to make them”.

Alex Chalk

Lord Chancellor

Ministry of Justice

23rd January 2024

We consent to the making of these Regulations

Scott Mann

Joy Morrissey

Two of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury

17th January 2024