Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999

Section 81.

SCHEDULE 11Contributions and pensions administration

Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4)

1The Contributions and Benefits Act is amended as follows.

2In section 2 (categories of earners), for subsection (2A) there is substituted—

“(2A)Regulations under subsection (2) above shall be made by the Treasury and, in the case of regulations under paragraph (b) of that subsection, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State.”

3In paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 (general regulation-making powers), at the end of sub-paragraph (1A) there is inserted “acting with the concurrence of the Inland Revenue”.

Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5)

4The Administration Act is amended as follows.

5In section 116 (legal proceedings), in subsection (5A) for the words from the beginning to “that section” there is substituted “In relation to proceedings for an offence under section 114 above”.

6In section 121A (recovery of contributions etc. in England and Wales), in subsection (8) for “Regulations may” there is substituted “The Inland Revenue may by regulations”.

7In section 121E (supply of contributions etc. information held by Inland Revenue), in subsection (1) after “statutory maternity pay” there is inserted “or functions under Part III of the Pensions Act”.

8In section 121F (supply to Inland Revenue for purposes of contributions etc. of information held by Secretary of State), at the end of subsection (2) there is inserted “or functions under Part III of the Pensions Act”.

Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 7)

9The Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 is amended as follows.

10In section 2 (categories of earners), for subsection (2A) there is substituted—

“(2A)Regulations under subsection (2) above shall be made by the Treasury and, in the case of regulations under paragraph (b) of that subsection, with the concurrence of the Department.”

11In section 172 (Assembly, etc. control of regulations and orders), in subsection (2)(c) for “, 153(2) or” there is substituted “or 153(2)”.

12In paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 (general regulation-making powers), at the end of sub-paragraph (1A) there is inserted “acting with the concurrence of the Inland Revenue”.

Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8)

13The Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 is amended as follows.

14In section 110 (legal proceedings), for subsection (5A) there is substituted—

“(5A)In relation to proceedings for an offence under section 108 above—

(a)the reference in subsection (2)(a) above to the Department, and

(b)the reference in subsection (3)(a) above to the Head or a secretary, under secretary or assistant secretary of the Department,

shall have effect as references to the Inland Revenue.”

15In section 115D (supply of contributions, etc. information held by Inland Revenue), in subsection (1) after “statutory maternity pay” there is inserted “or functions under Part III of the Pensions Act”.

16In section 115E (supply to Inland Revenue for purposes of contributions etc. of information held by Department or Secretary of State), at the end of subsection (2) there is inserted “or functions under Part III of the Pensions Act”.

17(1)In section 116 (supply of information held by tax authorities for fraud prevention and verification), for subsection (1) there is substituted—

“(1)This section applies—

(a)to information which is held—

(i)by the Inland Revenue, or

(ii)by a person providing services to the Inland Revenue, in connection with the provision of those services,

but is not information to which section 115D above applies, and

(b)to information which is held—

(i)by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, or

(ii)by a person providing services to the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, in connection with the provision of those services.”

(2)This amendment shall be deemed to have come into force on 1st April 1999 in place of that made by paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 5 to the [S.I. 1999/671.] Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.

18(1)In section 145 (adjustments between the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund and the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland)—

(a)in subsection (1)(a), sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) are omitted; and

(b)in subsection (3)(a), for “subsection (1)(a) and (b)” there is substituted “subsection (1)(b)”.

(2)These amendments shall be deemed to have come into force on 5th October 1999 in place of those made by paragraph 34 of Schedule 2 to the [1999 c. 10.] Tax Credits Act 1999.

19(1)In section 165 (regulations and orders - general), in subsection (9)(c), for “142(7), 145(4)” there is substituted “145(4)(a)”.

(2)This amendment shall be deemed to have come into force on 1st April 1999 in place of that made by paragraph 49(3) of Schedule 3 to the [S.I. 1999/671.] Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.

Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48)

20The Pension Schemes Act 1993 is amended as follows.

21In section 40 (scope of Chapter II of Part III), in paragraph (b) for “Secretary of State” there is substituted “Inland Revenue”.

22In section 170 (decisions and appeals), as amended by section 16(2) of the [1999 c. 2.] Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999, in subsection (5)—

(a)for paragraphs (a) and (b) there is substituted—

“(a)generally with respect to the making of relevant decisions;

(b)with respect to the procedure to be adopted on any application made under section 9 or 10 of the 1998 Act by virtue of subsection (4); and

(c)generally with respect to such applications, revisions under section 9 and decisions under section 10;”, and

(b)for “such a revision or decision” there is substituted “a revision under section 9 or decision under section 10”.

23In section 185 (consultation about regulations), in subsection (8) for “section 170(8)” there is substituted “section 170(5)”.

Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (c. 49)

24The Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 is amended as follows.

25(1)In section 154 (disclosure of information between government departments, etc.), in subsection (5) after “Subsections (1) and (1A)” there is inserted “extend”.

(2)This amendment shall be deemed to have come into force on 1st April 1999.

26In section 165 (decisions and appeals), as amended by Article 15(2) of the [S.I. 1999/671.] Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, in subsection (5)—

(a)for paragraphs (a) and (b) there is substituted—

“(a)generally with respect to the making of relevant decisions;

(b)with respect to the procedure to be adopted on any application made under Article 10 or 11 of the 1998 Order by virtue of subsection (4); and

(c)generally with respect to such applications, revisions under Article 10 and decisions under Article 11;”, and

(b)for “such a revision or decision” there is substituted “a revision under Article 10 or decision under Article 11”.

27(1)In section 177 (orders and regulations - general provisions), for subsection (7) there is substituted—

“(7)Any power conferred on the Secretary of State to make regulations or orders (other than an order under section 162) is exercisable by statutory instrument, and subsections (2) to (4) and section 178(1) apply to regulations or orders made in exercise of any such power of the Secretary of State as they apply to regulations made by the Department.”

(2)This amendment shall be deemed to have come into force on 1st April 1999 in place of those made by paragraph 75(3) of Schedule 1 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.

28In section 180(2) (consultation about regulations)—

(a)for “the appropriate government department” there is substituted “the Department or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State”, and

(b)after “it” there is inserted “or him”.

Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2)

29The Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 is amended as follows.

30In section 3 (general functions of Inland Revenue), subsection (3)(c) (which excludes the application of section 27 of the [1890 c. 21.] Inland Revenue Regulation Act 1890 but has not come into force) is omitted.

31In section 4 (recovery of contributions where income tax recovery provisions not applicable)—

(a)in paragraph (a), after “1992” there is inserted “or paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 to the [1992 c. 7.] Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992”,

(b)in paragraph (b), for “that Act” there is substituted “the [1992 c. 4.] Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 or section 18 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992”, and

(c)in paragraph (c), for “that Act” there is substituted “the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 or paragraph 7A or 7B of Schedule 1 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992”.

32In Schedule 1 (transfer of Contributions Agency functions and associated functions), the following provisions are omitted, namely—

(a)paragraph 4(6) (which was superseded by paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to the [S.I. 1999/671.] Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999), and

(b)paragraph 66(3) (which has not come into force).

33In Schedule 2 (transfer of functions under subordinate legislation), the entry in the third column relating to the [S.I. 1997/664 (C. 23).] Pensions Act 1995 (Commencement No. 10) Order 1997 shall have effect, and be deemed always to have had effect, with the substitution for “Articles 4 and 13” of “In Article 4, paragraph (1), paragraph (2), except so far as relating to section 55(3) of the [1993 c. 48.] Pension Schemes Act 1993, to the making of regulations under section 64(1) of that Act and to section 64(3) and (5) to (9) of that Act, and paragraph (3) and Article 13”.

Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/671)

34In Schedule 2 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (transfer of functions under subordinate legislation), the entry in the third column relating to the [S.R. (N.I.) 1997 No. 192 (C. 10).] Pensions (1995 Order) (Commencement No. 8) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997 shall have effect, and be deemed always to have had effect, with the substitution for “Articles 4 and 13” of “In Article 4, paragraph (1), paragraph (2), except so far as relating to section 51(3) of the [1993 c. 49.] Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 and to the making of regulations under section 60(1) of that Act, and paragraph (3) and Article 13”.

Transfer of certain functions under subordinate legislation: Great Britain

35There are hereby transferred to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue—

(a)all functions of the Secretary of State under the [S.I. 1979/591.] Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 1979 which are not transferred to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue by virtue of section 1(2) of, and Schedule 2 to, the [1999 c. 2.] Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999, except his functions under regulation 44 of those regulations,

(b)the functions of the Secretary of State under those provisions of the [S.I. 1984/380.] Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) Regulations 1984 (“the 1984 regulations”) which remain in force by virtue of regulation 77(a) of the [S.I. 1996/1172.] Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) Regulations 1996 (“the 1996 regulations”), including his functions under the modifications of section 60(4) and (5) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 made by regulation 23(10)(a)(iii) of the 1984 regulations, but excluding—

(i)his functions under paragraph (2) of regulation 20 of the 1984 regulations so far as relating to any extension of the period first referred to in that paragraph by more than six months, and

(ii)his functions under regulations 23(4) and 23A(4) of the 1984 regulations,

(c)the functions of the Secretary of State under regulation 2 of the [S.I. 1987/1103.] Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracted-out Protected Rights Premiums) Regulations 1987 (so far as remaining in force by virtue of regulation 77(b) of the 1996 regulations), and

(d)the functions of the Secretary of State under the [S.I. 1987/1111.] Personal Pension Schemes (Personal Pension Protected Rights Premiums) Regulations 1987 (“the 1987 regulations”) (so far as remaining in force by virtue of regulation 4(2) of the [S.I. 1997/786.] Personal and Occupational Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1997), except—

(i)his functions under paragraph (3) of regulation 5 of the 1987 regulations so far as relating to any extension of the period first referred to in that paragraph by more than six months, and

(ii)his functions under regulation 6(4) of the 1987 regulations.

Transfer of certain functions under subordinate legislation: Northern Ireland

36(1)There are hereby transferred to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue—

(a)all functions of the Department under the [S.R. (N.I.) 1979 No. 186.] Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979 which are not transferred to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue by virtue of Article 3(2) of, and Schedule 2 to, the [S.I. 1999/671.] Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, except the functions of the Department under regulation 44 of those regulations,

(b)the functions of the Department under those provisions of the [S.R. (N.I.) 1985 No. 259.] Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1985 (“the 1985 regulations”) which remain in force by virtue of regulation 78(a) of the Occupational [S.R. (N.I.) 1996 No. 493.] Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (“the 1996 regulations”), including its functions under the modifications of section 56(4) and (5) of the [S.R. (N.I.) 1985 No. 259.] Pension [1993 c. 49.] Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 made by regulation 22(10)(a) of the 1985 regulations, but excluding—

(i)its functions under paragraph (2) of regulation 19 of the 1985 regulations so far as relating to any extension of the period first referred to in that paragraph by more than six months, and

(ii)its functions under regulations 22(4) and 22A(4) of the 1985 regulations,

(c)the functions of the Department under regulation 2 of the [S.R. (N.I.) 1987 No. 281.] Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracted-out Protected Rights Premiums) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (so far as remaining in force by virtue of regulation 78(b) of the 1996 regulations), and

(d)the functions of the Department under the [S.R. (N.I.) 1987 No. 289.] Personal Pension Schemes (Personal Pension Protected Rights Premiums) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (“the 1987 regulations”) (so far as remaining in force by virtue of regulation 4(2) of the [S.R. (N.I.) 1997 No. 160.] Personal and Occupational Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997), except—

(i)its functions under paragraph (3) of regulation 5 of the 1987 regulations so far as relating to any extension of the period first referred to in that paragraph by more than six months, and

(ii)its functions under regulation 6(4) of the 1987 regulations.

(2)In sub-paragraph (1) “the Department” means the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland.

Savings

37Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 8 to the [1999 c. 2.] Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (general provisions relating to transfers of functions) shall have effect as if paragraphs 2, 3, 6, 21 and 35 of this Schedule were provisions of that Act specified in section 21(1) of that Act.

38Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 7 to the [S.I. 1999/671.] Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (general provisions relating to transfers of functions) shall have effect as if paragraphs 10, 12 and 36 of this Schedule were provisions of that Order specified in Article 20(1) of that Order.