Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993

Cancellation, variation, surrender and refusal of certificates N.I.

30 Cancellation, variation, surrender and refusal of certificates. N.I.

[F1 [F2 (1) Regulations shall provide for the cancellation, variation or surrender of a contracting-out certificate, or the issue of a new certificate—

(a) on any change of circumstances affecting the treatment of an employment as contracted-out employment; or

(b) where the certificate was issued on or after the principal appointed day, if any employer of persons in the description of employment to which the scheme in question relates, or the actuary of the scheme, fails to provide HMRC, at prescribed intervals, with such documents as may be prescribed for the purpose of verifying that the conditions of section 5(2B) are satisfied.]

(2) Regulations may enable the [F3 Inland Revenue] to cancel or vary a contracting-out certificate where—

(a) [F4 they have] reason to suppose that any employment to which it relates ought not to be treated as contracted-out employment in accordance with the certificate; and

(b) the employer does not show that it ought to be so treated.

(3) Where [F5 by or by virtue of any provision of this Part the contracting-out of a scheme in relation to an employment depends on the satisfaction of a particular condition,] the continued contracting-out of the scheme F6 ... shall be dependent on continued satisfaction of the condition; and if the condition ceases to be satisfied, that shall be a ground (without prejudice to any other) for the cancellation or variation of the contracting-out F7 ... certificate.

(4) A contracting-out certificate in respect of any employment may be withheld or cancelled by the [F3 Inland Revenue] if [F8 they consider] that there are circumstances which make it inexpedient that the employment should be or, as the case may be, continue to be, contracted-out employment by reference to the scheme, notwithstanding that the relevant scheme is one that [F9 they] would otherwise treat as proper to be contracted-out in relation to all earners in that employment.

F10 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F11 (6) Without prejudice to their powers apart from this subsection, the [F3 Inland Revenue] may withhold or cancel a contracting-out certificate in respect of a scheme if they consider that the rules of the scheme are such that persons over particular ages may be prevented from participating in the scheme.]

[F12 (7) Without prejudice to the preceding provisions of this section, failure of a scheme to comply with any requirements prescribed by virtue of section 21(2) shall be a ground on which the [F3 Inland Revenue] may, in respect of any employment to which the scheme relates, cancel a contracting-out certificate.]

(8) Except in prescribed circumstances, no cancellation, variation or surrender of a contracting-out certificate F13 ...shall have effect from a date earlier than that on which the cancellation, variation or surrender is made.

[F14 (9) A reference in this section to a contracting-out certificate does not include a reference to a contracting-out certificate issued in respect of a money purchase contracted-out scheme.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 30-32 repealed (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 22 (with savings until 6.4.2019 by S.R. 2016/106, arts. 1(1)(2), 2(1)(2))

F2 S. 30(1) substituted (6.4.2012) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 13(4), 21(1), Sch. 4 para. 15(2) (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3); S.R. 2012/115, art. 2

F3 Words in s. 30(1)(a)(ii)(2)(4)-(7) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 48(2); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F4 Words in s. 30(2)(a) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 48(3); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F5 Words in s. 30(3) substituted (6.4.2012) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 13(4), 21(1), Sch. 4 para. 15(3)(a) (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3); S.R. 2012/115, art. 2

F6 Words in s. 30(3) repealed (6.4.2012) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 13(4), 21(1), Sch. 4 para. 15(3)(b), Sch. 6 Pt. 6 (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3); S.R. 2012/115, art. 2

F7 Words in s. 30(3) repealed (6.4.2012) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 13(4), 21(1), Sch. 4 para. 15(3)(c), Sch. 6 Pt. 6 (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3); S.R. 2012/115, art. 2

F8 Words in s. 30(4)(5) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 48(4); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F9 Words in s. 30(4)(5) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 48(4); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F10 S. 30(5) repealed (6.4.2012) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 13(4), 21(1), Sch. 4 para. 15(4), Sch. 6 Pt. 6 (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3); S.R. 2012/115, art. 2

F11 S. 30(6) repealed (6.4.1997) by virtue of S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 30(b), Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1996/91, art. 2(d), Sch. Pt. IV; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F12 S. 30(7) substituted (6.4.1996 for certain purposes otherwise 6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 147, Sch. 3 para. 30(c); S.R. 1996/91, art. 2(d), Sch. Pt. IV; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F13 Words in s. 30(8) repealed (6.4.2012) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 13(4), 21(1), Sch. 4 para. 15(5), Sch. 6 Pt. 6 (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3); S.R. 2012/115, art. 2

F14 S. 30(9) added (6.4.2012) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 13(4), 21(1), Sch. 4 para. 15(6) (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3); S.R. 2012/115, art. 2

31 Surrender and cancellation of contracting-out certificates: issue of further certificates. N.I.

[F1 (1) This section applies in any case where—

(a) a contracting-out certificate (“the first certificate”) has been surrendered by an employer or cancelled by the Board; and

(b) at any time before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the date of the surrender or cancellation, that or any connected employer makes an election under section 7 in respect of any employment which was specified by virtue of section 3(2)(a) in the first certificate, with a view to the issue of a further contracting-out certificate.

(2) This section applies whether or not the scheme specified in the first certificate in relation to the employment concerned is the same as the scheme which would be specified in the further certificate if it were issued.

(3) The Board shall not give effect to the election referred to in subsection (1) by issuing a further certificate unless they consider that, in all the circumstances of the case, it would be reasonable to do so.

(4) Regulations may make such supplemental provision in relation to cases falling within this section as the Department considers necessary or expedient.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (1)—

(a) an employment (“the second employment”) in respect of which an election of the kind referred to in subsection (1)(b) has been made; and

(b) an employment (“the first employment”) which was specified by virtue of section 3(2)(a) in the first certificate,

shall be treated as one employment if, in the opinion of the Board—

(i) they are substantially the same, however described; or

(ii) the first employment falls wholly or partly within the description of the second employment or the second employment falls wholly or partly within the description of the first employment.

(6) Regulations shall prescribe the cases in which employers are to be treated as connected for the purposes of this section.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 30-32 repealed (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 22 (with savings until 6.4.2019 by S.R. 2016/106, arts. 1(1)(2), 2(1)(2))

32 Surrender and cancellation of contracting-out certificates: cancellation of further certificates. N.I.

[F1 (1) This section applies in any case where—

(a) a contracting-out certificate (“the first certificate”) has been surrendered by an employer or cancelled by the Board;

(b) a further contracting-out certificate (“the further certificate”) has been issued, after the surrender or cancellation of the first certificate but before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the date of the surrender or cancellation, in respect of any employment which was specified by virtue of section 3(2)(a) in the first certificate; and

(c) the Board have formed the opinion that had they been aware of all the circumstances of the case at the time when the further certificate was issued they would have been prevented by section 31(3) from issuing it.

(2) This section applies whether or not the scheme specified in the first certificate in relation to the employment concerned is the same as the scheme specified in the further certificate.

(3) The Board may, before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the further certificate was issued, cancel that certificate.

(4) Where a contracting-out certificate is cancelled under subsection (3) the provisions of this Act and of any regulations and orders made under it shall have effect as if the certificate had never been issued.

(5) Regulations may make such supplemental provision in relation to cases falling within this section as the Department considers necessary or expedient.

(6) Without prejudice to subsection (5), regulations may make provision, in relation to any case in which the Board have cancelled a contracting-out certificate under subsection (3), preventing the recovery by the employer concerned (whether by deduction from emoluments or otherwise) of such arrears which he is required to pay to the Department in respect of an earner’s liability under section 6(3) of the M1 Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 as may be prescribed.

(7) For the purposes of subsection (1)—

(a) an employment (“the second employment”) in respect of which a further contracting-out certificate of the kind referred to in subsection (1)(b) has been issued; and

(b) an employment (“the first employment”) which was specified by virtue of section 3(2)(a) in the first certificate,

shall be treated as one employment if, in the opinion of the Board—

(i) they are substantially the same, however described; or

(ii) the first employment falls wholly or partly within the description of the second employment or the second employment falls wholly or partly within the description of the first employment.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 30-32 repealed (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 22 (with savings until 6.4.2019 by S.R. 2016/106, arts. 1(1)(2), 2(1)(2))

Marginal Citations

M1 1992 c. 7.