The Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Act 2009 (Modifications to the Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Scheme) Resolution 2011

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Resolution)

The Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Act 2009 (asp 1) (the Act) continues the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme (the Pensions Scheme) established by the Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Scheme) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1082) (the Order), and transfers the responsibilities of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body under the Order for the Scottish Parliamentary Contributory Pensions Fund to the Fund Trustees (the Trustees) (section 1). Schedule 1 to the Act contains the Pensions Scheme rules. Schedule 3 to the Act makes transitional and savings provisions.

Amendment 1

Rule 13 (member nominated trustees) overrode rule 6 (number of trustees) if it was necessary to exceed that number to give effect to section 241 of the Pensions Act 2004 (c.35). Section 241(1) requires that a minimum (one third) of the trustees must be member nominated. However, section 241(8)(c) provides that section 241 does not apply to a prescribed pension scheme. The Pensions Scheme is prescribed for those purposes by the Occupational Pension Schemes (Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Act 2009) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1906) and rule 13 is redundant with effect from 1st September 2009.

Amendment 2

A simple drafting error in rule 49 is rectified.

Amendment 3

Rule 85(2) provides that an accepted application for the purchase of additional years is irrevocable. The amendment enables Pensions Scheme members to elect to revoke such an application.

Amendment 4

Rule 85A is inserted, providing a calculation of a Pensions Scheme member’s entitlement to additional years upon such an election.

Amendment 5

Amendment 5 makes similar provisions in the Order in respect of added years by amending paragraph 18 of schedule 3 (transitional provisions and savings) to the Act, modifying paragraph 3 of Schedule 5 to the Order.