The National Health Service Superannuation Scheme (2008 Section) (Scotland) Regulations 2013

Forfeiture of rights to benefits
This section has no associated Policy Notes

3.J.8.—(1) The Scottish Ministers may direct that all or part of any rights to benefits or other amounts payable to or in respect of a member under these Regulations be forfeited if—

(a)the member is convicted of any of the offences specified in paragraph (2); and

(b)the offence was committed before the benefit or other amount becomes payable.

(2) The offences are—

(a)an offence in connection with employment that qualifies the member to belong to this Section of the scheme, in respect of which the Scottish Ministers have issued a forfeiture certificate; and

(b)one or more offences under the Official Secrets Acts 1911 to 1989(1) for which the member has been sentenced on the same occasion to—

(i)a term of imprisonment of at least 10 years; or

(ii)two or more consecutive terms amounting in the aggregate to at least 10 years.

(3) In paragraph (2)(a) “forfeiture certificate” means a certificate that the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that the offence—

(a)has been gravely injurious to the State; or

(b)is liable to lead to serious loss of confidence in the public service.

(4) The Scottish Ministers may direct that all or part of any rights to benefits or other amounts payable in respect of a member under these Regulations be forfeited where the benefits or amounts are payable to a person to whom paragraph (5) applies who has been convicted of the murder or culpable homicide of that member or of any other offence of which unlawful killing of that member is an element.

(5) This paragraph applies to a person who is—

(a)the member’s widow, widower, surviving nominated partner or surviving civil partner;

(b)a dependant of the member;

(c)a person not falling within sub-paragraph (a) or (b) who is specified in a notice given under regulation 3.E.22(3) (payment of lump sums or pensions on death); or

(d)a person to whom such benefits or amounts are payable under the member’s will or on the member’s intestacy.

(6) A guaranteed minimum pension or safeguarded rights which are derived from rights to such pensions may be forfeited only if paragraph (1) applies in the case of an offence within paragraph (2)(b).