Further provisions relating to schemes under Article 3N.I.
4.—(1) A scheme under Article 3 which makes provision with respect to the pensions, allowances or gratuities which are to be, or may be, paid to or in respect of a person to whom that Article applies and who is incapacitated or dies as a result of an injury sustained, or disease contracted, in circumstances prescribed by the scheme may make the like provision in relation to any other person, being a person who is employed for the purposes of the Government of Northern Ireland, whether temporarily or permanently and whether for reward or not, or is a person holding office in that Government and who is incapacitated or dies as a result of an injury or disease so sustained or contracted.
(2) Any scheme under Article 3 may make provision for the payment by the Ministry of pensions, allowances or gratuities by way of compensation to or in respect of persons—
(a)to whom that Article applies; and
(b)who suffer loss of office or employment, or loss or diminution of emoluments, in such circumstances, or by reason of the happening of such an event, as may be prescribed by the scheme.
[F1(3) [F2Subject to paragraph (3A),] No scheme under Article 3 shall make any provision which would have the effect of reducing the amount of any pension, allowance or gratuity, in so far as that amount is directly or indirectly referable to rights which have accrued (whether by virtue of service rendered, contributions paid or any other thing done) before the coming into operation of the scheme, unless the persons consulted in accordance with Article 3(2) have agreed to the inclusion of that provision.]
[F3(3A) Paragraph (3) does not apply to a provision which would have the effect of reducing the amount of a compensation benefit except in so far as the compensation benefit is one provided in respect of a loss of office or employment which is the consequence of—
(a)a notice of dismissal given before the coming into operation of the scheme which would have that effect, or
(b)an agreement made before the coming into operation of that scheme.
(3B) In this Article—
““compensation benefit”” means so much of any pension, allowance or gratuity as is provided under the civil service compensation scheme by way of compensation to or in respect of a person by reason only of the person's having suffered a loss of office or employment;
““the civil service compensation scheme”” means so much of any scheme under Article 3 (whenever made) as provides by virtue of paragraph (2) for benefits to be provided by way of compensation to or in respect of persons who suffer loss of office or employment.
(3C) In paragraph (3B) a reference to suffering loss of office or employment includes a reference to suffering loss or diminution of emoluments as a consequence of suffering loss of office or employment.]
[F4(3D) So far as it relates to a provision of a scheme under Article 3 which would have the effect of reducing the amount of a compensation benefit, the duty to consult in paragraph (2) of that Article is a duty to consult with a view to reaching agreement with the persons consulted.]
(4) Subject to paragraph (3), any scheme under Article 3, or any provision thereof, may be framed—
(a)so as to have effect as from a date earlier than the date on which the scheme is made; or
(b)so as to apply in relation to the pensions, allowances or gratuities paid or payable to or in respect of persons who, having been persons to whom Article 3 applies, have died or ceased to be persons to whom that Article applies before the scheme comes into operation; or
(c)so as to require or authorise the payment of pensions, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of such persons.
(5) Where an order has been made under Article 3(6), any scheme under that Article may provide for the payment to the Ministry out of the fund specified in the order of benefits or other sums paid by it in accordance with the scheme to or in respect of persons to whom that Article applies by virtue of the order, together with any administrative expenses incurred in connection with the payment of those sums, and for the payment into that fund of contributions paid in accordance with the scheme by or in respect of those persons and of any transfer values received in respect of them.
(6) Any scheme under Article 3 may provide for the determination by the Ministry of questions arising under the scheme and may provide that the decision of the Ministry on any such question shall be final.
(7) Where under any such scheme any question falls to be determined by the Ministry, then, at any time before the question is determined, the Ministry may (and if so directed by the Court of Appeal shall) state in the form of a special case for determination by the Court of Appeal any question of law arising out of the question which falls to be determined by the Ministry.
(8) Before a scheme made under Article 3, being the principal civil service pension scheme or a scheme amending or revoking that scheme, comes into operation the Ministry shall lay a copy of the scheme before Parliament.
[F5(8A) Paragraph (8B) applies if a scheme made under Article 3 makes any provision which would have the effect of reducing the amount of a compensation benefit.
(8B) The scheme shall be subject to negative resolution and before the scheme comes into operation, the Department must have laid before the Assembly a report providing information about—
(a)the consultation that took place for the purposes of Article 3(2), so far as relating to the provision,
(b)the steps taken in connection with that consultation with a view to reaching agreement in relation to the provision with the persons consulted, and
(c)whether such agreement has been reached.]
(9) Notwithstanding any repeal made by this Order, the existing civil service superannuation provisions, that is to say, the transferred provisions listed in Schedule 2, shall, with the necessary adaptations and modifications, have effect as from the commencement of this Order as if they constituted a scheme made under Article 3 in relation to the persons to whom that Article applies, being the principal civil service pension scheme, and coming into operation on the said commencement and may be revoked or amended accordingly.
(10) In this Article “the principal civil service pension scheme” means the principal scheme made under Article 3 relating to persons serving in employment in the civil service.
F2Words in art. 4(3) inserted (with application in accordance with s. 1(4)-(6) of the amending Act) by Superannuation Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 (c. 1), ss. 1(2), 4(3)
F3Art. 4(3A)-(3C) inserted (with application in accordance with s. 1(4)-(6) of the amending Act) by Superannuation Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 (c. 1), ss. 1(3), 4(3)
F4Art. 4(3D) inserted (with application in accordance with s. 2(4) of the amending Act) by Superannuation Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 (c. 1), ss. 2(2), 4(2)
F5Art. 4(8A)-(8B) inserted (with application in accordance with s. 2(4) of the amending Act) by Superannuation Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 (c. 1), ss. 2(3), 4(2)