An office holder who is a participating member or who is not a member of the Parliament may exercise an option in writing under this article not to be a participating office holder in the Scheme.

Subject to paragraph (3), the effective opt-out date in respect of an office holder is whatever date the Parliamentary corporation shall determine to be the earliest practicable date after that on which it receives from him written notice of the exercise of the option.

If the Parliamentary corporation receives the written notice not more than 12 months after the date of commencement of a period of tenure of a qualifying office, the effective opt-out date is the date on which that period of tenure commenced and any contributions deducted under article D1 from his office holder’s salary in respect of that period of tenure shall be repaid to him.

An office holder who has exercised an option under paragraph (1) not to be a participating office holder or who has exercised the option under article C3(1) is referred to in this Order as “an opted-out office holder”.