2018 No. 368
Pensions

The National Employment Savings Trust (Amendment) Order 2018

Made
Coming into force
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 67(1) and (8), 144(2) to (4) and 145(1) of the Pensions Act 20081.
The Secretary of State, in accordance with section 71(2) of that Act, obtained the consent of the trustees2 before making this Order. The trustees, in accordance with section 71(4) of that Act, consulted the members’ panel and the employers’ panel3 before deciding whether to give that consent.
A draft of this Order was laid before Parliament in accordance with section 143(4) and (5)(c) of that Act4 and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Citation and commencement1.

This Order may be cited as the National Employment Savings Trust (Amendment) Order 2018 and comes into force on 6th April 2018.

Amendment of the National Employment Savings Trust Order 20102.

(1)

The National Employment Savings Trust Order 20105 is amended as follows.

(2)

After article 6 (consultation of members and employers) insert—

“Research6A.

The Trustee must, from time to time, carry out research about the administration and management of the Scheme as the Trustee considers expedient, on—

(a)

members of the Scheme;

(b)

participating employers; and

(c)

any representatives of members of the Scheme and participating employers,

in connection with the operation, development or amendment of the Scheme.”.

(3)

In article 18 (duty to admit employers), after paragraph (3) insert—

“(3A)

Where an employer wishes to arrange for a worker to become a member of the Scheme other than in accordance with—

(a)

in relation to Great Britain, sections 2 to 9 of the Act; or

(b)

in relation to Northern Ireland, sections 2 to 9 of the NI Act,

the Trustee may admit the employer to participation in the Scheme in the circumstances specified in paragraph (4).”.

(4)

In article 19 (admittance of members)—

(a)

after paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A)

Subject to paragraph (6), where an employer wishes to arrange for a worker to become a member of the Scheme other than in accordance with—

(a)

in relation to Great Britain, sections 2 to 9 of the Act; or

(b)

in relation to Northern Ireland, sections 2 to 9 of the NI Act,

the Trustee may admit as a member of the Scheme a worker employed by the employer in the circumstances specified in paragraph (3).”;

(b)

after paragraph (4A) insert—

“(4B)

Subject to paragraph (6), the Trustee may admit as a member of the Scheme a person if—

(a)

in relation to Great Britain, a scheme provides for a transfer of accrued rights in accordance with section 73(2)(a) of the Pension Schemes Act 19936; or

(b)

in relation to Northern Ireland, a scheme provides for a transfer of accrued rights in accordance with section 69(2)(a) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 19937,

in relation to that person, and the employer of persons to which the receiving scheme relates is a participating employer and is making contributions to the Scheme in respect of or on behalf of a jobholder.”.

(5)

In article 21 (members’ accounts), for paragraph (6) substitute—

“(6)

Any amount received by the Trustee from, or in respect of or on behalf of, a member in relation to—

(a)

the member’s employment, or

(b)

an instance described in article 19(4), (4A) or (4B),

must be applied to the relevant member’s pension account.”.

(6)

After article 21 (members’ accounts) insert—

“Removal of members21A.

The Trustee may remove a member from the Scheme if—

(a)

the amount in the member’s pension account is zero;

(b)

the period for which sub-paragraph (a) applies has been at least twelve months, starting with the date on which the member was admitted to the Scheme;

(c)

once the period in sub-paragraph (b) has expired, the Trustee has notified the member in writing of the proposal to close the member’s pension account; and

(d)

the member has not complied with the requirements in the notice given under sub-paragraph (c), as provided for in the rules.”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Guy Opperman
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Department for Work and Pensions
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes amendments to the National Employment Savings Trust Order 2010 relating to: (i) joining events for members and employers; (ii) placing a duty on the Trustee to carry out research; and (iii) members’ accounts.

Article 2(2) places a new duty on the Trustee to carry out research on NEST members, participating employers and their representatives. Article 2(3) provides for a new joining event, by which the Trustee may admit an employer into NEST. Article 2(4) provides for new joining events, by which the Trustee may admit a member into NEST. Article 2(5) clarifies what sums are to be applied to a member’s pension account and article 2(6) sets out when the Trustee may remove a member from the Scheme.

An impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector is available on www.legislation.gov.uk and copies can be obtained from the Department for Work and Pensions, First Floor, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA.