British Telecommunications Act 1981

84 Power of managers of certain welfare funds to preserve their scope. U.K.

(1)A fund to which this section applies is one (whether described by the addition thereto of the attribute “welfare”, “benevolent” or “mutual aid” or by the addition thereto of any other attribute) the objects of which consist in or include the provision for—

(a)persons who are, or have been, employees of the Post Office, or for such persons of any class or description; or

(b)for the relatives and dependants of any persons who are or have been so employed, or of such persons of any class or description,

of benefits in case of need, sickness or distress, and a society or organisation to which this section applies is one (however described) the objects of which are similar; and in this section—

• “managers” in relation to a fund, society or organisation, means the trustees, committee or other persons entrusted with its management;

• “relevant body” means the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or any subsidiary of the Post Office.

(2)The provisions of the trust deed, rules, regulations or other instrument constituting or regulating a fund, society or organisation to which this section applies may, by resolution of the managers of the fund, society or organisation, be altered—

(a)so as to permit persons who are employees (past or present) of a relevant body, or persons who are members of a class of persons of that description, to become members of, or subscribers to, the fund, society or organisation;

(b)so as, in the case of persons of the said description or persons who are members of a class of persons of that description, to entitle them and persons claiming in right of them (subject to such, if any, terms and conditions as may be specified in the resolution) to receive benefits from the fund, society or organisation if, and to the extent that, they would be entitled to receive benefits therefrom if employment by a relevant body were employment by the Post Office;

but so that no alteration be made that alters the character of the fund, society or organisation.

(3)If a resolution of the managers of a fund, society or organisation to which this section applies so provides—

(a)any reference in the trust deed, rules, regulations or other instrument constituting or regulating the fund, society or organisation to the Post Office (not being a reference in a context referring, in whatever terms, to persons employed by the Post Office or persons so employed of a specified description) shall be construed as referring (or, if the context so requires, as including a reference) to a relevant body; and

(b)any reference in that instrument, in whatever terms, to persons so employed or persons so employed of a specified description shall be construed as referring (or, if the context so requires, as including a reference) to persons employed by a relevant body or, as the case may be, to persons so employed of a corresponding description.

(4)For the purposes of a resolution deriving validity from this section, the definition of a class of persons may be framed by reference to any circumstances whatever.