http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1993/49/section/5Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 An Act to consolidate for Northern Ireland certain enactments relating to pension schemes, with corrections and minor improvements under the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act 1949.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-05-05Expert Participation2026-04-06 Part III<CommentaryRef Ref="key-2ae0e236f424ffe745222d338c93f037"/> <Substitution ChangeId="key-d2958520cd7a1b7ff9b807c2b5b2c904-1581000533475" CommentaryRef="key-d2958520cd7a1b7ff9b807c2b5b2c904">Schemes that were contracted-out etc.</Substitution> and Effects on Members’ State Scheme Rights ...Chapter I <Substitution ChangeId="key-f01c0e01c3cb2d5e03204911fc8c60b0-1581000665469" CommentaryRef="key-f01c0e01c3cb2d5e03204911fc8c60b0">Schemes that were contracted-out: guaranteed minimum pensions and alteration of scheme rules etc.</Substitution> <Repeal ChangeId="key-748ba0c80629b21ac2c57be7d7a1efa6-1581080216962" CommentaryRef="key-748ba0c80629b21ac2c57be7d7a1efa6" RetainText="true">General requirements for certification</Repeal> Requirements for certification of schemes: general.51Subject to subsection (4), an occupational pension scheme can be contracted-out in relation to an earner’s employment only if it satisfies subsection (2) ....2An occupational pension scheme satisfies this subsection only if—ain relation to any earner’s service before the principal appointed day, it satisfies the conditions of subsection (2A); andbin relation to any earner’s service on or after that day, it satisfies the conditions of subsection (2B).2AThe conditions of this subsection are that—athe scheme complies in all respects with sections 9 to 20E or, in such cases or classes of case as may be prescribed, with those sections as modified by regulations; andbthe rules of the scheme applying to guaranteed minimum pensions are framed so as to comply with the relevant requirements.2BThe conditions of this subsection are that the Inland Revenueare satisfied that—athe scheme complies with section 8A;brestrictions imposed under Article 40 of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (restriction on employer-related investments) apply to the scheme and the scheme complies with those restrictions;cthe scheme satisfies such other requirements as may be prescribed (which—imust include requirements as to the amount of the resources of the scheme, andiimay include a requirement that, if the only members of the scheme were those falling within any prescribed class or description, the scheme would comply with section 8A), anddthe scheme does not fall within a prescribed class or description;and are satisfied that the rules of the scheme are framed so as to comply with the relevant requirements.2CRegulations may modify subsection (2B)(a) and (b) in their application to occupational pension schemes falling within a prescribed class or description.3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Where there are two or more occupational pension schemes in force in relation to an earner’s employment, none of which can by itself be a contracted-out scheme, the Inland Revenue may, if they think fit, treat them for contracting-out purposes as a single scheme.5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5ARegulations about pension schemes made under this Chapter may contain provisions framed by reference to whether or not a scheme is a registered pension scheme under section 153 of the Finance Act 2004.6In this section “relevant requirements” means—athe requirements of any regulations prescribing the form and content of rules of contracted-out ... schemes; andbsuch other requirements as to form and content (not inconsistent with regulations) as may be imposed by the Department as a condition of contracting-out ... either generally or in relation to a particular scheme.Pt. 3: power to modify conferred (1.6.1996 for certain purposes otherwise 6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 146(1); S.R. 1996/91, art. 2(f); S.R. 1997/192, art. 2Pt. 3: power to transfer functions conferred (1.4.1999) by 1999 c. 2, s. 23(1)(2)(6); S.I. 1999/527, art. 2(b), Sch. 2S. 5 excluded (1.6.1996 for certain purposes otherwise 6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22) art. 146(1); S.R. 1996/91, art. 2(f); S.R. 1997/192, art. 2S. 5(2)-(2C) substituted (6.4.1996 for certain purposes otherwise 6.4.1997) for s. 5(2) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22) art. 133(3); S.R. 1996/91, art. 2(d)(h), Sch. Pt. IVWord in s. 5(2B) 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. 38(2)(a); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2Words in s. 5(2B) 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. 38(2)(b); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2Words in s. 5(4) 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. 38(4); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2Words in s. 5(6)(b) substituted (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 147, Sch. 3 paras. 13, 14 Table; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)S. 5(3) repealed (6.4.2012) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 13(4), 21(1), Sch. 4 para. 4(3), Sch. 6 Pt. 6 (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3); S.R. 2012/115, art. 2Words in s. 5(6)(a) repealed (6.4.2012) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 13(4), 21(1), Sch. 4 para. 4(4)(a), Sch. 6 Pt. 6 (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3); S.R. 2012/115, art. 2S. 5(5) repealed (6.4.2012) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 13(4), 21(1), Sch. 4 para. 4(3), Sch. 6 Pt. 6 (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3); S.R. 2012/115, art. 2Words in s. 5(1) repealed (6.4.2012) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 13(4), 21(1), Sch. 4 para. 4(2), Sch. 6 Pt. 6 (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3); S.R. 2012/115, art. 2Words in Pt. 3 heading omitted (6.4.2016) by virtue of Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 3(b)Words in s. 5(6)(b) repealed (6.4.2012) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 13(4), 21(1), Sch. 4 para. 4(4)(b), Sch. 6 Pt. 6 (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3); S.R. 2012/115, art. 2S. 5 cross-heading repealed (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 8 (with savings until 6.4.2019 by S.R. 2016/106, arts. 1(1)(2), 2(1)(2))Pt. 3 modified (24.7.2014) by The Pensions (2012 Act) (Transitional, Consequential and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (S.R. 2014/204), regs. 1(1), 6(2)Words in Pt. 3 heading substituted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 3(a)S. 5 repealed (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 9 (with savings until 6.4.2019 by S.R. 2016/106, arts. 1(1)(2), 2(1)(2))Words in s. 5(2A) substituted (3.3.2009 for specified purposes, 6.4.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 12(4), 21(1); S.R. 2009/75, art. 2(a)(b)Words in s. 5(5A) substituted for s. 5(5A)(a)(b) (6.4.2006) by The Taxation of Pension Schemes (Consequential Amendments) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/745), arts. 1, 8(2)Pt. 3 Ch. 1 heading substituted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 4