The Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

60.  In section 165 (determinations by the Department)—

(a) in subsection (1)—

(i) in paragraph (b) for “state scheme” (in both places) substitute “contributions equivalent”,

(ii) omit “and” at the end of paragraph (c), and

(iii) for the words following paragraph (d) substitute—

“and

(e) any question whether an employment is, or is to be treated, for the purposes of this Act as contracted-out employment or as to the persons in relation to whom, or the period for which, an employment is, or is to be treated, for the purposes of this Act as such employment”,

(b) omit subsections (3) and (4), and

(c) at the end of that section add—

“(7) Sections 16 and 17 of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (appeals and reviews) shall have effect as if the questions mentioned in subsection (1) of section 15 of that Act included—

(a) any question arising in connection with the issue, cancellation or variation of contracting-out certificates or appropriate scheme certificates, not being a question mentioned in subsection (1)(e) above, and

(b) any other question arising under this Act which falls to be determined by the Department, not being a question mentioned in that subsection.

(8) Regulations may make provision with respect to the procedure to be adopted on any application for a review made under section 17 of that Act by virtue of subsection (7) above and generally with respect to such applications and reviews, but may not prevent such a review being entered upon without an application being made.”.