Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992

Part XIN.I. Finance

141 National Insurance Fund.N.I.

[F1(1)The National Insurance Fund shall be maintained under the control and management of the Inland Revenue.]

(2)Accounts of the National Insurance Fund shall be prepared [F2by the Inland Revenue] in such form, and in such manner and at such times, as the [F3Treasury] may direct, and the Comptroller and Auditor General F4. . . shall examine and certify every such account and shall lay copies of it, together with his report on it, before [F3Parliament].

(3)Any money in the National Insurance Fund may from time to time be paid over to the [F5National Debt Commissioners] and be invested by [F5them] in any such manner for the time being specified in Part II of Schedule 1 to the M1Trustee Investments Act 1961 as the Treasury may specify by an order of which a draft has been laid before Parliament.

(4)The [F6National Debt Commissioners] shall certify a statement of the securities in which money forming part of the National Insurance Fund is for the time being invested and that statement so certified shall be included with the accounts of that Fund laid before [F6Parliament] under subsection (2) above.

142 Destination of contributions.N.I.

(1)Contributions received by the [F7Inland Revenue]. . . shall be paid by [F7them] into the National Insurance Fund after deducting from contributions of any class, the appropriate health service allocation in the case of contributions of that class.

(2)[F8Subsection (1) above is subject to section 16(5)] of the Great Britain Contributions and Benefits Act F9. . ..

[F10(2A)References in subsections (1) and (2) above to contributions include references to payments on account of contributions made in accordance with regulations under section 3(5) of the Contributions and Benefits Act (payments on account of directors’ contributions).]

(3)The additions paid under section 1(5) of the Contributions and Benefits Act shall be paid, in accordance with any directions given by the [F11Treasury], into the National Insurance Fund.

[F12(4)There shall be paid into the National Insurance Fund—

(a)so much of any interest recovered by the Inland Revenue by virtue of paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 to the Contributions and Benefits Act or paragraph 6 of Schedule 2 to that Act as remains after the deduction by them of any administrative costs attributable to its recovery,

(b)the amounts apportioned to [F13contributions] under sub-paragraph (6) of paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 to the Contributions and Benefits Act in respect of the penalties mentioned in that sub-paragraph, and

(c)so much of any penalty otherwise imposed by virtue of that paragraph and recovered by the Inland Revenue as remains after the deduction by them of any administrative costs attributable to its recovery.]

[F14(4ZA)There shall be paid into the National Insurance Fund so much of any penalty imposed under section 98 of the Taxes Management Act 1970 in a case relating to section 104ZA of this Act (including any penalty imposed by virtue of section 105(4) of this Act) as remains after deduction by the Inland Revenue of the administrative expenses attributable to its recovery.

(4ZB)Subsections (4)(b) and (c) and (4ZA) above shall have effect notwithstanding any provision which treats a penalty under section 98 or 98A of the Taxes Management Act 1970 as if it were tax charged in an assessment and due and payable.]

[F15(4A)The sums recovered by the [F16Inland Revenue] under regulations made under paragraph 7A [F17or 7B] of Schedule 1 to the Contributions and Benefits Act in respect of interest or penalties shall be paid into the National Insurance Fund.]

(5)In subsection (1) above “the appropriate health service allocation” means—

(a)in the case of primary Class 1 contributions, 1.05 per cent. of the amount estimated to be that of [F18so much of the earnings in respect of which those contributions were paid as exceeded [F19the primary threshold] but did not exceed the upper earnings limit];

(b)in the case of secondary Class 1 contributions, 0.9 per cent. of the amount estimated to be that of the [F19total] earnings in respect of which [F20primary Class 1 contributions] were paid;

(c)in the case of Class 1A contributions, 0.9 per cent. of the amount estimated to be the aggregate of the [F21emoluments] used in calculating those contributions;

[F22(ca)in the case of Class 1B contributions, 0.9 per cent. of the amount estimated to be the aggregate of the emoluments and the amounts of income tax in respect of which those contributions were paid;]

(d)in the case of Class 2 contributions, 15.5 per cent. of the amount estimated to be the total of those contributions;

(e)in the case of Class 3 contributions, 15.5 per cent. of the amount estimated to be the total of those contributions; and

(f)in the case of Class 4 contributions, 1.15 per cent. of the amount estimated to be that of the earnings in respect of which those contributions were paid.

(6)In subsection (5) above “estimated” means estimated by the [F23Inland Revenue] in any manner which the [F23Inland Revenue consider] to be appropriate and which the [F23Treasury] has approved.

[F24(6A)In the case of earners paid other than weekly, the reference in subsection (5)(a) above to [F25the primary threshold or the upper earnings limit] shall be taken as a reference to the equivalent of [F25that threshold or limit prescribed under section 5(4)] of the Contributions and Benefits Act.]

[F26(7)Whenever the Treasury makes an order under section 162(7) of the Great Britain Administration Act (destination of contributions — national health service allocation), the order may also make corresponding provision for Northern Ireland.]

(8)No order under subsection (7) above shall substitute a figure which represents an increase or decrease in the appropriate health service allocation of more than—

(a)0.1 per cent. of the relevant earnings, in the case of paragraph (a) or (b);

(b)0.1 per cent. of the relevant aggregate, in the case of paragraph (c) [F27or (ca)];

(c)4 per cent. of the relevant contributions, in the case of paragraph (d) or (e); or

(d)0.2 per cent. of the relevant earnings, in the case of paragraph (f).

(9)From the health service allocation in respect of contributions of any class there shall be deducted such amount as the [F28Inland Revenue] may estimate to be the portion of the total expenses incurred by [F29them] or any other government department in collecting contributions of that class which is fairly attributable to that allocation, and [F29the remainder shall be paid by the Inland Revenue to the relevant Northern Ireland Department towards] the cost of the health service in Northern Ireland.

(10)Any amounts deducted in accordance with subsection (9) above shall be paid by the [F30Inland Revenue] into the Consolidated Fund.

F31(11). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(12)The [F29Inland Revenue] may make regulations modifying this section, in such manner as [F29they think] appropriate, in relation to the contributions of persons referred to in the following provisions of the Contributions and Benefits Act—

(a)section 116(2) (H.M. Forces);

(b)section 117(1) (mariners, airmen, etc.),

and in relation to any contributions which are reduced under section 6(5) of that Act.

143 General financial arrangements.N.I.

(1)There shall be paid out of the National Insurance Fund—

(a)benefit under Part II of the Contributions and Benefits Act;

(b)guardian’s allowance;

(c)Christmas bonus if the relevant qualifying benefit is payable out of that Fund;

(d)any sum falling to be paid by or on behalf of the [F32Inland Revenue] under regulations relating to statutory sick pay or statutory maternity pay;

F33(e). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)There shall be paid out of money appropriated by Measure—

(a)any administrative expenses of the Department or any other government department in carrying into effect the Contributions and Benefits Act or this Act;

[F34(aa)any administrative expenses of the Department in supplying information about benefits under Part II of that Act in accordance with regulations under Article 21 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.]

(b)benefit under Part III of that Act, other than guardian’s allowance;

(c)benefit under Part V of that Act;

F33(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

except in so far as they may be required by any enactment to be paid or borne in some other way.

(3)The administrative expenses referred to in subsection (2)(a) above include those in connection with any inquiry [F35undertaken-

(a)on behalf of the Inland Revenue with a view to obtaining statistics relating to the operation of Part I of the Contributions and Benefits Act, and

(b)on behalf of the Department with a view to obtaining statistics relating to the operation of Parts II to VI and XI of that Act.]

(4)Any sums required by [F36any person] for the purpose of paying any secondary Class 1 contributions [F37, or any Class 1A contributions,] which are payable by him in respect of an earner in consequence of the earner’s employment in an office of which the emoluments are payable out of the Consolidated Fund shall be paid out of that Fund.

(5)Any expenditure in respect of the payment of interest or repayment supplements under or by virtue of paragraph 6 [F38or 7B] of Schedule 1 to the Contributions and Benefits Act or paragraph 6 of Schedule 2 to that Act shall be defrayed out of the National Insurance Fund in accordance with any directions given by the [F39Treasury].

144 Destination of repayments, etc.N.I.

(1)Subject to [F40Article 38 of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and to]the following provisions of this section, so far as it relates to payments out of money appropriated by Measure, any sum recovered by the Department under or by virtue of this Act shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

(2)So far as any such sum relates to a payment out of the National Insurance Fund, it shall be paid into that Fund.

(3)So far as any such sum relates to a payment out of the social fund, it shall be paid into that fund.

(4)Sums repaid by virtue of paragraph 1(3)(e) of Schedule 6 to this Act as it has effect for the purposes of regulations under paragraph 2 of Schedule 8 to the Contributions and Benefits Act shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

(5)There shall be paid into the National Insurance Fund—

[F41(a)fees so payable under regulations made by virtue of section 60(2)(b) above;]

(b)sums recovered by the Department under regulations made by virtue of paragraph 2 or 4 of Schedule 8 to the Contributions and Benefits Act making provision corresponding to that made by or by virtue of section 69 above.

(6)Any sums [F42recovered by the Department under section 13A above]. . . shall be paid—

(a)into the Consolidated Fund to the extent that it estimates that those sums relate to payments out of money appropriated by Measure; and

(b)into the National Insurance Fund to the extent that it estimates that they relate to payments out of that Fund.

[F43(7)Any sums received by the Department under regulations made by virtue of section 13A(2)(b) above shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.]

[F44(7)Any sums repaid to the Department in pursuance of section 119(1) of the 1975 Act (which related to the effect of adjudication and was repealed subject to a saving in relation to certain reviews and appeals) shall—

(a)be paid by it into the Consolidated Fund in so far as they represent benefit which under section 143 above is payable out of money appropriated for the purpose and not out of the National Insurance Fund; and

(b)otherwise, be paid by it into that Fund.]

[F45(8)All penalties recovered under section 109A above shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.]

145 Adjustments between National Insurance Fund and Consolidated Fund.N.I.

[F46(1)There shall be made out of the National Insurance Fund into the Consolidated Fund, or [F47by the Department out of money appropriated by Measure to the Inland Revenue for payment into the National Insurance Fund]—

(a)such payments by way of adjustment as the Department determines (in accordance with any directions of the Department of Finance and Personnel) to be appropriate in consequence of the operation of any statutory provision relating to—

F48(i). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F48(ii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(iii)the repayment or offsetting of benefit as defined in section 121 of the Contributions and Benefits Act or other payments; and

(b)such payments by way of adjustment as the Inland Revenue determine to be appropriate in consequence of the operation of any statutory provision relating to—

(i)statutory sick pay; and

(ii)statutory maternity pay.]

(2)Where any such payments as are specified in subsection (3) below fall to be made by way of adjustment, then, subject to subsection (4) below,—

(a)the amount of the payments to be made shall be taken to be such, and

(b)payments on account of them shall be made at such times and in such manner,

as may be determined [F49by the appropriate authority].

[F50(2A)In subsection (2) above “the appropriate authority” means—

(a)the Department, in relation to payments falling to be made by it, or

(b)the Inland Revenue, in relation to payments falling to be made by them;

and any determination by the Department under that subsection must be made in accordance with any directions given by the Department of Finance and Personnel.]

(3)The payments mentioned in subsection (2) above are the following, that is to say—

(a)any such payments falling to be made by way of adjustment under [F51subsection (1) (b)] above;

(b)any such payments falling to be made by way of adjustment in consequence of the operation of any enactment or regulations relating to child benefit—

(i)out of the National Insurance Fund into the Consolidated Fund, or

(ii)into the National Insurance Fund out of money appropriated by Measure; and

(c)any such payments falling to be made by way of adjustment in circumstances other than those mentioned in subsection (1) or paragraph (b) above—

(i)out of the National Insurance Fund either to the Department or another government department or into the Consolidated Fund; or

(ii)into the National Insurance Fund out of money appropriated by Measure.

(4)In relation to payments falling within paragraph (a) or (c) of subsection (3) above, subsection (2) above only applies in such cases or classes of case as may be [F52specified-

(a)in relation to payments falling to be made by the Department, by the Department by order made with the concurrence of the Inland Revenue, or

(b)in relation to payments falling to be made by the Inland Revenue, by the Inland Revenue by order].

[F53(5)There shall be paid out of the National Insurance Fund into the Consolidated Fund, at such times and in such manner as the Treasury may direct—

(a)such sums as the Inland Revenue may estimate to be the amount of the administrative expenses incurred by them as mentioned in section 143(2)(a) above, excluding any expenses which the Treasury may direct, or any statutory provision may require, to be excluded from the Inland Revenue’s estimate under this subsection, and

(b)such sums as the Department may estimate (in accordance with any directions given by the Department of Finance and Personnel) to be the amount of the administrative expenses incurred as mentioned in section 143(2)(a) [F54or (aa)] above by any government department other than the Inland Revenue, excluding the expenses specified in subsection (6) below.

(6)The expenses excluded from the estimate under subsection (5)(b) above are —

(a)expenses attributable to the carrying into effect of provisions of the Contributions and Benefits Act or this Act relating to the benefits which by virtue of section 143(2) above are payable out of money appropriated by Measure; and

(b)any other category of expenses which the Department of Finance and Personnel may direct, or any statutory provision may require, to be excluded from the Department’s estimate under subsection (5)(b) above;

but none of the administrative expenses of the Christmas bonus shall be excluded from that estimate by virtue of paragraph (a) or (b) above.

(7)In this section “Consolidated Fund” means the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland or the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom as appropriate.]

146 The social fund.N.I.

(1)The fund known as the social fund shall continue in being by that name.

(2)The social fund shall continue to be maintained under the control and management of the Department and payments out of it shall be made by the Department.

(3)The Department shall make payments into the social fund of such amounts, at such times and in such manner as the Department may with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel determine.

(4)Accounts of the social fund shall be prepared in such form, and in such manner and at such times, as the Department of Finance and Personnel may direct, and the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland shall examine and certify every such account and shall lay copies of it, together with his report, before the Assembly.

(5)The Department shall prepare an annual report on the social fund.

(6)A copy of every such report shall be laid before the Assembly.

147 Allocations from social fund.N.I.

(1)The Department shall allocate amounts for payments from the social fund such as are mentioned in section 134(1)(b) of the Contributions and Benefits Act.

(2)The Department may specify the amounts either as sums of money or by reference to money falling into the social fund on the repayment or partial repayment of loans, or partly in the former and partly in the latter manner.

(3)Allocations—

(a)may be for payments by [F55a particular appropriate officer or group of appropriate officers];

(b)may be of different amounts for different purposes;

(c)may be made at such time or times as the Department considers appropriate; and

(d)may be in addition to any other allocation to the same officer or group of officers or for the same purpose.

(4)The Department may at any time re-allocate amounts previously allocated, and subsections (2) and (3) above shall have effect in relation to a re-allocation as they have effect in relation to an allocation.

(5)The Department may give general directions to [F56appropriate officers] or groups of [F56appropriate officers], or to any class of [F56appropriate officers], with respect to the control and management by [F56appropriate officers] or groups of [F56appropriate officers] of the amounts allocated to them under this section.

[F57(6)In this section “appropriate officer” means an officer of the Department who, acting under its authority, is exercising functions of the Department in relation to payments from the social fund such as are mentioned in section 134(1)(b) of the Contributions and Benefits Act.]

148 Adjustments between social fund and other sources of finance.N.I.

(1)There shall be made—

(a)out of the social fund into the Consolidated Fund or the National Insurance Fund;

(b)into the social fund out of money appropriated by Measure or the National Insurance Fund,

such payments by way of adjustment as the Department determines (in accordance with any directions of the Department of Finance and Personnel) to be appropriate in consequence of any statutory provision relating to the repayment or offsetting of a benefit under the Contributions and Benefits Act.

(2)Where in any other circumstances payments fall to be made by way of adjustment—

(a)out of the social fund into the Consolidated Fund or the National Insurance Fund; or

(b)into the social fund out of money appropriated by Measure or the National Insurance Fund,

then, in such cases or classes of case as may be specified by the Department by order, the amount of the payments to be made shall be taken to be such, and payments on account of it shall be made at such times and in such manner, as may be determined by the Department in accordance with any direction given by the Department of Finance and Personnel.