The Occupational Pension Schemes (Payments to Employer) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

Schemes with more than one employer

18.—(1) Where—

(a) a scheme in relation to which there is more than one employer is divided into two or more sections, and

(b) the provisions of the scheme are such that they meet conditions A and B,

these Regulations shall apply as if each section of the scheme were a separate scheme.

(2) Condition A is that contributions payable to the scheme by an employer, or by a member in employment under that employer, are allocated to that employer’s section (or, if more than one section applies to the employer, to the section which is appropriate in respect of the employment in question).

(3) Condition B is that a specified part or proportion of the assets of the scheme is attributable to each section and cannot be used for the purposes of any other section.

(4) In their application to a scheme—

(a) which has been such a scheme as is mentioned in paragraph (1);

(b) which is divided into two or more sections, at least one of which applies only to members who are not in pensionable service under the section;

(c) the provisions of which have not been amended so as to prevent conditions A and B being met in relation to two or more sections, and

(d) in relation to one or more sections of which those conditions have ceased to be met at any time by reason only of there being no members in pensionable service under the section and no contributions which are to be allocated to it,

Articles 37 (payment of surplus to employer) and 76 (excess assets on winding up) and these Regulations apply as if the section in relation to which those conditions have ceased to be satisfied were a separate scheme.

(5) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) to (4), any provisions of the scheme by virtue of which contributions or transfers of assets may be made to make provision for death benefits are disregarded.

(6) But if paragraph (1) or (4) applies and, by virtue of any provisions of the scheme, contributions or transfers of assets to make provision for death benefits are made to a section (“the death benefits section”) the assets of which may only be applied for the provision of death benefits, the death benefits section is also to be treated as if it were a separate scheme for the purpose of Articles 37 and 76 and these Regulations.

(7) For the purpose of this regulation, any provisions of a scheme by virtue of which assets attributable to one section may on the winding up of the scheme or a section be used for the purposes of another section are disregarded.

(8) In the application of Article 37(3) to a scheme in relation to which there is more than one employer, sub-paragraph (e) of that paragraph shall have effect as if for “employer has asked”, there were substituted “person whom the employers nominate to act as their representative for the purposes of this paragraph has asked, or, if no such nomination is made, all the employers have asked”.