Part 1U.K.Pension scheme membership for jobholders

Chapter 1E+W+SEmployers' duties

MiscellaneousE+W+S

31Effect of freezing order [F1, assessment period or pause order] E+W+S

(1)Where a jobholder is an active member of a qualifying scheme and a freezing event occurs in relation to the scheme, the jobholder does not, for the purposes of this Chapter, cease to be an active member of the scheme, and the scheme does not, for those purposes, cease to be a qualifying scheme, by virtue of any relevant provision.

(2)Where a worker is an active member of a scheme that satisfies the requirements of section 9 and a freezing event occurs in relation to the scheme, the worker does not, for the purposes of section 9(1)(c), cease to be an active member of the scheme by virtue of any relevant provision.

(3)In this section—

• “freezing event” in relation to a scheme means—

  (a)

  the making of a freezing order under section 23 of the Pensions Act 2004 (c. 35) in relation to the scheme, F2...

  (b)

  the beginning of an assessment period within the meaning of section 132 of that Act in relation to the scheme, F2...

  (c)

  [F3the making of a pause order under section 31 of the Pension Schemes Act 2017][F4, or

  (d)

  the making of a pause order under section 44 of the Pension Schemes Act 2021;]

• “relevant provision” means—

  (a)

  in relation to a freezing order, provision contained in the order, or the provision made with respect to the order by section 23 of the Pensions Act 2004;

  (b)

  in relation to an assessment period, the provision made with respect to the period by section 133 of that Act.

  (c)

  [F5in relation to a pause order, provision contained in the order or the provision made with respect to the order by section 31 of the Pension Schemes Act 2017 [F6or (as the case may be) section 44 of the Pension Schemes Act 2021].]

32Power of trustees [F7or managers] to modify by resolutionE+W+S

(1)The trustees [F7or managers] of an occupational pension scheme may by resolution modify the scheme—

(a)with a view to enabling the scheme to comply with the conditions in section 17(2), or

(b)by increasing the amount required to be paid in contributions, in order for the scheme [F8 to satisfy—

(i)the requirements contained in section 20(1),

(ii)those requirements as modified under section 24(1)(a), or

(iii)a requirement prescribed under section 28(2)(b).]

(2)An increase under subsection (1)(b) may be made only—

(a)by increasing the amount of any contribution, directly or by modifying the basis on which it is calculated, or

(b)by increasing the frequency of any contributions.

(3)No modification may be made by virtue of subsection (1) without the consent of the employer in relation to the scheme.

(4)In the application of subsection (3) to a scheme in relation to which there is more than one employer, references to the employer have effect as if they were references to a person nominated by the employers, or by the scheme, to act as the employers' representative for the purposes of this section or, if no such nomination is made, to all of the employers.

(5)Regulations may provide that this section does not apply to occupational pension schemes within a prescribed class or description.

33Deduction of contributionsE+W+S

(1)An employer who arranges for a person to become a member of a scheme in accordance with section 3(2), 5(2) or 7(3), or of an occupational pension scheme in accordance with section 9(2), may deduct the person's contributions to the scheme from the person's remuneration and pay them to the trustees or managers of the scheme (in the case of an occupational pension scheme) or the provider of the scheme (in the case of a personal pension scheme).

(2)Regulations prescribing arrangements for the purposes of section 3(2), 5(2), 7(3) or 9(2), may require the employer to make such a deduction or payment at any time on or after the date with effect from which the jobholder is to become an active member of a scheme under the arrangements.