Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008

[F1Certification that quality requirement or alternative requirement is satisfied]N.I.

F228—(1) The Department may by regulations provide that, subject to provision within subsection (6)(f), a scheme to which this section applies is to be taken to satisfy the relevant quality requirement in relation to [F3each of an employer's relevant jobholders ] if a certificate given in accordance with the regulations is in force in relation to the employer.

[F4(1A) In this section—

(a)“relevant jobholder” means a jobholder to whom the certificate in question applies;

(b)a reference to a scheme includes a reference to part of a scheme.]

(2) The certificate must [F5state—

(a)that], in relation to [F6relevant jobholders ] of the employer who are active members of the scheme, the scheme is in the opinion of the person giving the certificate able to satisfy the relevant quality requirement throughout the certification period[F7, or

(b)that, in relation to those jobholders, the scheme is in that person's opinion able to satisfy a prescribed alternative requirement throughout the certification period.]

(3) This section applies to—

(a)a money purchase scheme to which section 20 applies;

(b)a personal pension scheme to which section 26 applies;

(c)a hybrid scheme, to the extent that requirements within section 24(1)(a) apply.

[F8(3A) This section also applies to—

(a)a money purchase scheme that is an occupational pension scheme within section 18(b);

(b)a personal pension scheme of a prescribed description for which provision is made under section 27;

(c)a hybrid scheme that is an occupational pension scheme within section 18(b), to the extent prescribed.]

[F9(3B) This section also applies to a defined benefits scheme that has its main administration in the United Kingdom and is of a description prescribed under section 23A(1)(a).]

(4) The “relevant quality requirement”—

(a)for a scheme within subsection (3)(a), means the quality requirement under section 20;

(b)for a scheme within subsection (3)(b), means the quality requirement under section 26;

(c)for a scheme within paragraph (c) of subsection (3), means the requirements mentioned in that paragraph.

[F10(d)for a scheme within subsection (3A), means a prescribed requirement.]

[F11(e)for a scheme within subsection (3B), means the quality requirement under section 23A(1)(a).]

(5) Regulations may make further provision in relation to certification under this section.

(6) Regulations may in particular make provision—

(a)as to the period for which a certificate is in force (the “certification period”);

(b)as to the persons by whom a certificate may be given;

(c)as to procedures in connection with certification or where a certificate has been given;

(d)requiring persons to have regard to guidance issued by the Department;

(e)requiring an employer to calculate the amount of contributions that a scheme, and any [F12contribution agreements] , required to be paid by or in respect of [F13any relevant jobholder] in the certification period;

(f)as to cases where the requirements of a scheme, and any [F14contribution agreements] , as to payment of contributions by or in respect of [F15relevant jobholders] of an employer did not satisfy prescribed conditions.

(7) Provision within subsection (6)(f) includes in particular provision for a scheme not to be treated by virtue of regulations under this section as having satisfied the relevant quality requirement unless prescribed steps are taken (which may include the making of prescribed payments).

(8) In subsection (6) [F16“contribution agreements” means—

(a)the agreement] required, in the case of a scheme within subsection (3)(b), by section 26(4) and any agreement required, in the case of such a scheme, by section 26(6).[F17, or

(b)any agreement of the same or a similar kind that is required, in the case of a scheme within subsection (3A)(b), by regulations under section 27.]

(9) The Department may by order repeal this section.