Part IIIE+W+S Certification of Pension Schemes and Effects on Members’ State Scheme Rights and Duties

Chapter IE+W+S Certification

[F1Requirements for certification of occupational pension schemes applying from the principal appointed day of the Pensions Act 1995E+W+S

Textual Amendments

F1Ss. 12A-12D and cross-heading inserted (6.4.1996 for specified purposes, 6.4.1997 in so far as not already in force) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), ss. 136(5), 180(1); S.I. 1996/778, art. 2(5)(a)(7), Sch. Pt. 5

12AThe statutory standardE+W+S

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Part, the scheme must, in relation to the provision of pensions for earners in employed earner’s employment, and for their widows or widowers, satisfy the statutory standard.

(2)Subject to regulations made by virtue of section 9(2B)(c)(ii), in applying this section regard must only be had to—

(a)earners in employed earner’s employment, or

(b)their widows or widowers,

collectively, and the pensions to be provided for persons falling within paragraph (a) or (b) must be considered as a whole.

(3)For the purposes of this section, a scheme satisfies the statutory standard if the pensions to be provided for such persons are broadly equivalent to, or better than, the pensions which would be provided for such persons under a reference scheme.

(4)Regulations may provide for the manner of, and criteria for, determining whether the pensions to be provided for such persons under a scheme are broadly equivalent to, or better than, the pensions which would be provided for such persons under a reference scheme.

(5)Regulations made by virtue of subsection (4) may provide for the determination to be made in accordance with guidance prepared from time to time by a prescribed body and approved by the Secretary of State.

(6)The pensions to be provided for such persons under a scheme are to be treated as broadly equivalent to or better than the pensions which would be provided for such persons under a reference scheme if and only if an actuary (who, except in prescribed circumstances, must be the actuary appointed for the scheme in pursuance of section 47 of the Pensions Act 1995) so certifies.]