These Regulations make provision with respect to the supply of information under section 12A of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985 about court orders for payment of pension lump sums where parties divorce or their marriage is declared to be null. They also revoke earlier Regulations of 1996 which had previously made comparable provision.

Regulations 2 to 7 make provision for notices to be given by persons responsible for pension arrangements in respect of the various changes of circumstances which are relevant to orders made under section 12A(2) or (3) of the 1985 Act.

Regulation 8 revokes regulations 1 and 2 (partially) and 4 to 10 of the Divorce etc (Pensions) (Scotland) Regulations 1996 and regulations 1, 2 and 3 (partially) and 5 to 8 of the Divorce etc (Pensions) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 1997.

The assessment of the cost to business of the provisions of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999, including these Regulations, is detailed in the Regulatory Impact Assessment for that Act. A copy of this Assessment has been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament. Copies can be obtained by post from the Department of Social Security, Pensions on Divorce, Third Floor, The Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT.