Part 1Transfer of balances in dormant accounts

The general scheme

1Transfer of balances to reclaim fund

(1)This section applies where—

(a)a bank or building society transfers to an authorised reclaim fund the balance of a dormant account that a person (“the customer”) holds with it, and

(b)the reclaim fund consents to the transfer.

(2)After the transfer—

(a)the customer no longer has any right against the bank or building society to payment of the balance, but

(b)the customer has against the reclaim fund whatever right to payment of the balance the customer would have against the bank or building society if the transfer had not happened.

(3)The reference in subsection (1) to an account that a person holds is to be read as including an account held by a deceased individual immediately before his or her death.

In such a case, a reference in subsection (2) to the customer is to be read as a reference to the person to whom the right to payment of the balance has passed.

Alternative scheme for smaller institutions

2Transfer of balances to charities, with proportion to reclaim fund

(1)This section applies where—

(a)a smaller bank or building society transfers to an authorised reclaim fund an agreed proportion of the balance of a dormant account that a person (“the customer”) holds with it,

(b)the bank or building society transfers the remainder of that balance to one or more charities,

(c)the charity, or each of the charities, either—

(i)is a charity that the bank or building society considers to have a special connection with it, or

(ii)undertakes to apply the money in question for the benefit of members of communities that are local to the branches of the bank or building society,

(d)the reclaim fund consents to the transfer to it, and

(e)the charity, or each of the charities, consents to the transfer to it.

(2)After the transfers—

(a)the customer no longer has any right against the bank or building society to payment of the balance, but

(b)the customer has against the reclaim fund whatever right to payment of the balance the customer would have against the bank or building society if the transfers had not happened.

(3)The reference in subsection (1) to an account that a person holds is to be read as including an account held by a deceased individual immediately before his or her death.

In such a case, a reference in subsection (2) to the customer is to be read as a reference to the person to whom the right to payment of the balance has passed.

(4)In subsection (1) “agreed proportion” means a proportion agreed between the bank or building society and the reclaim fund.

In agreeing that proportion, the reclaim fund must take account of the need for the fund to have access at any given time to enough money to enable it to meet whatever repayment claims it is prudent to anticipate.

(5)For the purposes of this section—

(a)“repayment claim” means a claim made by virtue of subsection (2)(b);

(b)a “smaller” bank or building society is one that meets the assets-limit condition (see section 3);

(c)a charity has a “special connection” with a bank if (and only if) the purpose, or any of the main purposes, of the charity is to benefit members of communities that are local to the branches of the bank;

(d)a charity has a “special connection” with a building society if (and only if) the purpose, or any of the main purposes, of the charity—

(i)is to benefit members of communities that are local to the branches of the building society, or

(ii)is especially consonant with any particular purposes that the building society has.

(6)The reference in subsection (5)(d)(ii) to particular purposes does not include the purpose mentioned in section 5(1)(a) of the Building Societies Act 1986 (c. 53) (making loans that are secured on residential property and substantially funded by members).

3The assets-limit condition

(1)A bank or building society meets the assets-limit condition if the aggregate of the amounts shown in its balance sheet as assets on the last day of the latest financial year for which it has prepared accounts is less than £7,000 million.

(2)In relation to a bank or building society that was a member of a group on the day referred to in subsection (1), that subsection has effect as if the aggregate of the amounts shown in its balance sheet as assets on that day also included the aggregate of the amounts shown in each group member’s balance sheet as assets—

(a)on that day, or

(b)(in the case of a group member whose financial year did not end on that day) on the last day of its latest financial year to end before that day.

(3)Where a balance sheet for a particular day shows amounts in a currency other than sterling, for the purposes of this section the amounts are to be converted into sterling at the London closing exchange rate for that currency and that day.

(4)The Treasury may by order amend the figure in subsection (1).

(5)An order under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Shareholding members of building societies

4Effect of balance transfer on membership rights

(1)This section applies where a person (“the member”) holds a share in a building society represented by an account with the society, and either—

(a)a transfer is made to a reclaim fund with the result that section 1 applies in relation to the account, or

(b)transfers are made to a reclaim fund and one or more charities with the result that section 2 applies in relation to the account.

(2)After the transfer or transfers the member is to be treated as having whatever share in the building society the member would have if the transfer or transfers had not happened (and accordingly as having whatever rights, including distribution rights, a holder of that share would have as such).

(3)In subsection (2) “distribution rights” means rights to any distribution arising as mentioned in section 96 (amalgamation or transfer of engagements) or 100 (transfer of business) of the Building Societies Act 1986.

(4)Subsection (2) ceases to apply where the balance of the account is paid out following a claim made by virtue of section 1(2)(b) or 2(2)(b).

(5)But where the balance of the account is paid out following such a claim and, as soon as reasonably practical, the money is—

(a)paid back into the account, or

(b)paid into another share account with the building society in the member’s name,

subsection (2) continues to apply until the account is credited with the money.

(6)Where, after the transfer or transfers referred to in subsection (1), the building society is succeeded by another building society as a result of an amalgamation or transfer of engagements, a reference in subsection (2) or (5) to the building society is to be read, in relation to any time after the amalgamation or transfer of engagements, as a reference to the successor building society (or to the successor building society of the successor, in relation to any time after a subsequent amalgamation or transfer; and so on).

Reclaim funds

5Functions etc of a reclaim fund

(1)A “reclaim fund” is a company the objects of which are restricted by its articles of association to the following—

(a)the meeting of repayment claims;

(b)the management of dormant account funds in such a way as to enable the company to meet whatever repayment claims it is prudent to anticipate;

(c)the transfer of money to the body or bodies for the time being specified in section 16(1), subject to the need for the company—

(i)to have access at any given time to enough money to meet whatever repayment claims it is prudent to anticipate,

(ii)to comply with any requirement with regard to its financial resources that is imposed on it by or under any enactment, and

(iii)to defray its expenses;

(d)objects that are incidental or conducive to, or otherwise connected with, any of the above (including in particular the prudent investment of dormant account funds).

(2)Schedule 1 makes further provision about provision that must be made in the articles of association of a reclaim fund.

(3)An alteration by a reclaim fund of its articles of association is ineffective if it would result in—

(a)the company ceasing to have objects restricted to those mentioned in subsection (1);

(b)the company’s articles of association not containing any provision that they are required to make under Schedule 1.

(4)The Treasury may give a direction to a reclaim fund requiring it—

(a)to give effect to any specified object that it has, or

(b)to comply with any specified obligation or prohibition imposed on it by a provision that its articles of association are required to make under Schedule 1.

• “Specified” means specified in the direction.

(5)The Treasury shall lay before Parliament a copy of any direction given under subsection (4).

(6)In this section—

• “company” has the meaning given by section 1(1) of the Companies Act 2006 (c. 46);

• “dormant account funds” means money paid to a reclaim fund by banks and by building societies in respect of dormant accounts;

• “repayment claims” means claims made by virtue of section 1(2)(b) or 2(2)(b).

Interpretation etc

6Interpretation of Part 1

In this Part—

• “account” has the meaning given by section 9;

• “authorised”, in relation to a reclaim fund, means authorised for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8);

• “balance” has the meaning given by section 8;

• “bank” has the meaning given by section 7;

• “building society” means a building society incorporated (or deemed to be incorporated) under the Building Societies Act 1986 (c. 53);

• “charity” means a body, or the trustees of a trust, established for charitable purposes only;

• “dormant” has the meaning given by section 10;

• “financial year”—

  (a)

  in relation to a company (other than a building society) within the meaning of the Companies Act 2006, has the meaning given in section 390(1) to (3) of that Act;

  (b)

  in relation to an undertaking that is not a company within the meaning of that Act (and is not a building society), has the meaning given in section 390(4) of that Act;

  (c)

  in relation to a building society, has the meaning given in section 117 of the Building Societies Act 1986;

• “group” means a parent undertaking and its subsidiary undertakings;

• “parent undertaking” and “subsidiary undertaking” have the same meaning as in the Companies Act 2006 (see section 1162 of that Act);

• “reclaim fund” has the meaning given by section 5(1).

7“Bank”

(1)Subject to subsection (4), “bank” means an authorised deposit-taker that has its head office, or one or more branches, in the United Kingdom.

(2)In subsection (1) “authorised deposit-taker” means—

(a)a person who under Part 4 of FSMA 2000 has permission to accept deposits;

(b)an EEA firm of the kind mentioned in paragraph 5(b) of Schedule 3 to FSMA 2000 that has permission under paragraph 15 of that Schedule (as a result of qualifying for authorisation under paragraph 12(1) of that Schedule) to accept deposits.

(3)A reference in subsection (2) to a person or firm with permission to accept deposits does not include a person or firm with permission to do so only for the purposes of, or in the course of, an activity other than accepting deposits.

(4)“Bank” does not include—

(a)a building society;

(b)a person who is specified, or is within a class of persons specified, by an order under section 38 of FSMA 2000 (exemption orders);

(c)a credit union;

(d)a friendly society.

(5)In this section—

• “credit union” has the same meaning as in the Credit Unions Act 1979 (c. 34) (see section 1(1) of that Act);

• “friendly society” has the same meaning as in the Friendly Societies Act 1992 (c. 40) (see section 116 of that Act);

• “FSMA 2000” means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8).

8“Balance”

(1)The balance of a person’s account at any particular time is the amount owing to the person in respect of the account at that time, after the appropriate adjustments have been made for such things as interest due and fees and charges payable.

(2)In relation to a time after a transfer has been made as mentioned in section 1(1) or transfers have been made as mentioned in section 2(1), the adjustments referred to in subsection (1) above include those that would fall to be made but for the transfer or transfers.

9“Account”

(1)“Account” means an account that has at all times consisted only of money.

(2)A reference in this Part to an account held with a bank or building society is to an account provided by the bank or building society as part of its activity of accepting deposits.

(3)In relation to a building society, “account” includes an account representing shares in the society, other than—

(a)preferential shares, or

(b)deferred shares within the meaning given in section 119(1) of the Building Societies Act 1986 (c. 53).

10“Dormant”

(1)An account is “dormant” at a particular time if—

(a)the account has been open throughout the period of 15 years ending at that time, but

(b)during that period no transactions have been carried out in relation to the account by or on the instructions of the holder of the account.

(2)But an account is to be treated as not dormant if at any time during that period—

(a)the bank or building society in question was under instructions from the holder of the account not to communicate with that person about the account, or

(b)under the terms of the account—

(i)withdrawals were prevented, or

(ii)there was a penalty or other disincentive for making withdrawals in all circumstances.

(3)For the purposes of subsection (1) an account is to be treated as remaining open where it is closed otherwise than on the instructions of the holder of the account.

(4)For the purposes of subsection (2)(b)(i) withdrawals are prevented if they are prevented except as permitted by provision made under subsection (4)(d) of section 3 of the Child Trust Funds Act 2004 (c. 6) (requirements to be satisfied by child trust funds).

(5)The Treasury may by order amend the figure in subsection (1)(a).

(6)An order under this section may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

Supplemental

11Customer’s rights preserved on insolvency etc of bank or building society

(1)Where after a person has acquired a right to payment under section 1(2)(b) or 2(2)(b)—

(a)the bank or building society in question is dissolved or wound up, or

(b)for any other reason the liability that the bank or building society would have to the person (but for the transfer referred to in section 1(1) or the transfers referred to in section 2(1)) is extinguished or reduced,

the dissolution, winding-up, extinguishment or reduction is to be disregarded for the purposes of section 1(2)(b) or 2(2)(b).

(2)Subsection (1)(b) does not apply to an extinguishment of liability by prescription under the law of Scotland.

12Disclosure of information

No obligation as to secrecy or other restriction on disclosure (however imposed) prevents a bank or building society from giving to an authorised reclaim fund information needed by the fund to enable it to deal with claims made by virtue of section 1(2)(b) or 2(2)(b).

13Banks making transfers under section 2: information in directors' reports

(1)Where—

(a)the directors of a company that is a bank are required by section 415(1) of the Companies Act 2006 (c. 46) to prepare a report for a particular financial year, and

(b)in that year the company made transfers in relation to which section 2 applied,

the report must identify each of the charities concerned and specify the amount transferred to each of them.

(2)The requirements of subsection (1) are to be treated for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006 (c. 46) as requirements of that Act.

14Review and report to Parliament

(1)The Treasury shall carry out a review of—

(a)the operation of this Part, and

(b)the effectiveness of the efforts made by financial institutions to secure that those entitled to money in inactive accounts are made aware of the fact.

(2)In reviewing the operation of this Part the Treasury shall in particular consider—

(a)how many banks and building societies have transferred balances as mentioned in section 1(1) or 2(1);

(b)how much money has been transferred and how promptly;

(c)how effective have been the arrangements for meeting claims made by virtue of section 1(2)(b) or 2(2)(b).

But the review shall not consider the activities of a reclaim fund in so far as they are regulated activities for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8).

(3)The Treasury shall make arrangements to enable anyone with an interest in any aspect of the review to make representations, and shall consider all representations received.

(4)The Treasury shall set out the results and conclusions of the review in a report and lay it before Parliament.

(5)The report must be laid within three years from the date when a reclaim fund is first authorised.

Amendments

15Amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 is amended as set out in Schedule 2.

Part 2Distribution of money under the general scheme

The distribution system: general

16Distribution of dormant account money by Big Lottery Fund

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Part, the Big Lottery Fund shall distribute dormant account money for meeting expenditure that has a social or environmental purpose.

(2)In this Part “dormant account money” means money transferred to the Big Lottery Fund by a reclaim fund in pursuance of the object mentioned in section 5(1)(c), and also includes the proceeds of such money invested under—

(a)paragraph 20(1) of Schedule 4A to the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (c. 39), or

(b)arrangements made under section 25(1).

(3)The Fund may make grants or loans, or make or enter into other arrangements, for the purpose of complying with subsection (1).

(4)A grant or loan may be subject to conditions (which may, in particular, include conditions as to repayment with interest).

(5)For the purposes of this Part, distributing money for meeting expenditure of a particular description includes distributing money for the purpose of establishing, or contributing to, endowments (including permanent endowments) in connection with expenditure of that description.

(6)Schedule 3 makes further provision about the functions of the Fund in relation to dormant account money.

17Apportionment of dormant account money

(1)The apportionable income of the Big Lottery Fund in each financial year is to be apportioned as follows and distributed accordingly—

(a)a prescribed percentage for meeting expenditure in relation to England;

(b)a prescribed percentage for meeting expenditure in relation to Wales;

(c)a prescribed percentage for meeting expenditure in relation to Scotland;

(d)a prescribed percentage for meeting expenditure in relation to Northern Ireland.

The four percentages must add up to 100%.

(2)Expenditure within paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of subsection (1) is referred to in this Part as English expenditure, Welsh expenditure, Scottish expenditure and Northern Ireland expenditure respectively.

(3)For the purposes of this section, the apportionable income of the Big Lottery Fund for a given financial year is—

(4)In this section “prescribed” means prescribed by an order made by the Secretary of State.

(5)Before making an order under this section the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a)the Welsh Ministers;

(b)the Scottish Ministers;

(c)the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland;

(d)the Big Lottery Fund;

(e)such other persons (if any) as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate.

(6)An order under this section may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

Distribution for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

18Distribution of money for meeting English expenditure

(1)A distribution of dormant account money for meeting English expenditure must be—

(a)made for meeting expenditure on or connected with the provision of services, facilities or opportunities to meet the needs of young people,

(b)made for meeting expenditure on or connected with—

(i)the development of individuals' ability to manage their finances, or

(ii)the improvement of access to personal financial services,or

(c)made to a social investment wholesaler.

(2)In this section—

• “social investment wholesaler” means a body that exists to assist or enable other bodies to give financial or other support to third sector organisations;

• “third sector organisation” means an organisation that exists wholly or mainly to provide benefits for society or the environment.

19Distribution of money for meeting Welsh expenditure

(1)The Welsh Ministers may by order made by statutory instrument make provision restricting the purposes for which, or the kinds of person to which, a distribution of dormant account money for meeting Welsh expenditure may be made.

(2)Before making an order under this section the Welsh Ministers shall consult the Big Lottery Fund and such other persons (if any) as they think appropriate.

(3)An order under this section may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the National Assembly for Wales.

20Distribution of money for meeting Scottish expenditure

(1)The Scottish Ministers may by order made by statutory instrument make provision restricting the purposes for which, or the kinds of person to which, a distribution of dormant account money for meeting Scottish expenditure may be made.

(2)Before making an order under this section the Scottish Ministers shall consult the Big Lottery Fund and such other persons (if any) as they think appropriate.

(3)An order under this section may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Scottish Parliament.

21Distribution of money for meeting Northern Ireland expenditure

(1)The Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland may by order make provision restricting the purposes for which, or the kinds of person to which, a distribution of dormant account money for meeting Northern Ireland expenditure may be made.

(2)Before making an order under this section the Department of Finance and Personnel shall consult the Big Lottery Fund and such other persons (if any) as the Department thinks appropriate.

(3)The power to make an order under this section is exercisable by statutory rule for the purposes of the Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (S.I. 1979/1573 (N.I. 12)).

(4)An order under this section may not be made unless a draft of it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Powers of Secretary of State or appropriate national authority

22Directions to Big Lottery Fund

(1)In exercising any of its functions under this Act the Big Lottery Fund shall comply with any direction given to it under this section.

(2)Subject to subsection (5), the power to give a direction under this section is exercisable by the Secretary of State.

(3)A direction under this section may, in particular—

(a)specify matters to be taken into account in determining the persons to whom the Fund distributes money;

(b)specify purposes for which (or matters to be taken into account in determining the purposes for which) the Fund may or may not distribute money;

(c)relate to the process used to determine what payments to make;

(d)relate to—

(i)the terms and conditions on which the Fund makes grants or loans, or

(ii)other arrangements under section 16(3).

(4)A direction under this section may, in particular—

(a)relate to arrangements under section 25;

(b)relate to the management and control of money received by the Fund;

(c)relate to the employment of staff;

(d)relate to the form of accounts or methods and principles for the preparation of accounts;

(e)in so far as it relates to a matter specified in paragraphs (a) to (d)—

(i)relate to the persons to whom or the terms on which the Fund delegates functions;

(ii)require the Fund to obtain the Secretary of State’s consent before taking action of a specified kind;

(iii)require the Fund to provide information to the Secretary of State.

(5)A direction under this section may not be given by the Secretary of State in relation to Welsh, Scottish or Northern Ireland expenditure, but—

(a)may be given by the Welsh Ministers in relation to Welsh expenditure;

(b)may be given by the Scottish Ministers in relation to Scottish expenditure;

(c)may be given by the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland in relation to Northern Ireland expenditure.

This subsection does not apply to a direction given by virtue only of subsection (4).

(6)A direction under this section may not be inconsistent with —

(a)section 16(1), or

(b)section 18 or an order under section 19, 20 or 21 (whichever is applicable).

(7)Any minister, ministers or department proposing to give a direction under this section must consult the Big Lottery Fund before doing so.

(8)The power of the Fund to appoint staff under paragraph 6 of Schedule 4A to the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (c. 39), or to make payments under paragraph 18 of that Schedule (remuneration etc), has effect subject to any directions under subsection (4)(c).

23Power to prohibit distribution in certain cases

(1)The Secretary of State may by order prohibit the Big Lottery Fund from distributing dormant account money to a person specified in the order if the Secretary of State considers that the Fund is able (whether directly or indirectly) to control or materially to influence the policy of that person in carrying on any undertaking or performing any functions.

(2)Before making an order under this section that—

(a)relates to Welsh expenditure, Scottish expenditure or Northern Ireland expenditure, or

(b)would otherwise be likely, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, to affect persons in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland,

the Secretary of State shall consult the Welsh Ministers, the Scottish Ministers or the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland (as appropriate).

(3)An order under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(4)The Secretary of State may require the Fund to provide such information as is needed for the purpose of exercising his or her powers under this section.

24Power to add or remove distributors

(1)The Secretary of State may by order amend this Act so that functions exercisable by the body or bodies currently specified in section 16(1) are exercisable instead by the body or bodies specified there as a result of the order.

(2)The Secretary of State may exercise the power conferred by subsection (1) so as to remove from section 16(1) a body that has contravened or failed to comply with a requirement or prohibition imposed on it by or under section 22 or 23.

This is not to be read as limiting subsection (1).

(3)An order under this section may—

(a)make consequential amendments to this Act;

(b)make transitional or supplemental provision (including provision amending this Act).

(4)Where two or more bodies are specified in section 16(1) as a result of an order under this section, the order must provide that any amount transferred by a reclaim fund in pursuance of the object mentioned in section 5(1)(c) is to be apportioned between those bodies in the percentages specified in the order.

(5)Functions conferred on a body as a result of an order under this section are exercisable notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any enactment or instrument relating to the functions of the body.

(6)Before making an order under this section the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a)the Welsh Ministers;

(b)the Scottish Ministers;

(c)the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland.

(7)An order under this section may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

Supplemental

25Power of Big Lottery Fund to enter into arrangements

(1)The Big Lottery Fund may enter into arrangements with a body or person (including a reclaim fund) for money that may be or has been paid to the Big Lottery Fund to be held or invested, on its behalf, by that body or person.

(2)The Big Lottery Fund may enter into arrangements with a reclaim fund for payments that the Big Lottery Fund is required to make under section 26(3), (6), (8) or (10) to be made on its behalf by the reclaim fund.

26Expenses

(1)The Big Lottery Fund may defray out of dormant account money any expenses incurred by it in consequence of this Act.

(2)Where the Fund makes an appointment under paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 it may defray out of dormant account money any expenses incurred by the appointee in consequence of the appointment.

(3)At such times as the Secretary of State determines to be appropriate, the Big Lottery Fund shall pay into the Consolidated Fund, out of dormant account money received by it, such amounts as the Secretary of State determines to be appropriate for defraying—

(a)expenses incurred or to be incurred by the Secretary of State in respect of the giving of directions under section 22 in relation to English expenditure, and

(b)any other expenses incurred or to be incurred by the Secretary of State under this Act.

(4)Amounts paid under subsection (3)(a) are to be paid out of money apportioned under section 17 for meeting English expenditure.

(5)For the purposes of this section, a direction under section 22 is not to be regarded as a direction given in relation to English expenditure if it is given by virtue only of subsection (4) of that section.

(6)At such times as the Welsh Ministers determine to be appropriate, the Big Lottery Fund shall pay to those ministers, out of money apportioned under section 17 for meeting Welsh expenditure, such amounts as they determine to be appropriate for defraying expenses incurred or to be incurred by them under this Act.

(7)The power of the Treasury under section 120(3) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32) to designate descriptions of sums received by the Welsh Ministers (with the result that they become payable to the Secretary of State) is not exercisable in relation to amounts payable to those Ministers under subsection (6) above.

(8)At such times as the Scottish Ministers determine to be appropriate, the Big Lottery Fund shall pay into the Scottish Consolidated Fund, out of money apportioned under section 17 for meeting Scottish expenditure, such amounts as those ministers determine to be appropriate for defraying expenses incurred or to be incurred by them under this Act.

(9)The power of the Treasury under section 64(5) of the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46) to designate descriptions of receipts payable into the Scottish Consolidated Fund (with the result that they become payable to the Secretary of State) is not exercisable in relation to amounts payable into that Fund under subsection (8) above.

(10)At such times as the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland determines to be appropriate, the Big Lottery Fund shall pay into the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland, out of money apportioned under section 17 for meeting Northern Ireland expenditure, such amounts as that Department determines to be appropriate for defraying expenses incurred or to be incurred by that Department under this Act.

Interpretation

27Interpretation of Part 2

(1)In this Part—

• “dormant account money” has the meaning given by section 16(2);

• “English expenditure”, “Welsh expenditure”, “Scottish expenditure” and “Northern Ireland expenditure” have the meaning given by section 17(2);

• “financial year” means a period of 12 months ending with 31 March;

• “reclaim fund” has the meaning given by section 5(1).

(2)A reference in this Part to the distribution of money is to be read as including a reference to making or entering into arrangements in accordance with section 16(3), and related expressions are to be read accordingly.

See also section 16(5).

Part 3Final provisions

28Orders

A power of the Treasury or the Secretary of State to make an order under this Act is exercisable by statutory instrument.

29Directions

(1)A direction under this Act must be given in writing.

(2)A direction under this Act may be varied or revoked by a subsequent direction.

30Extent

This Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

31Commencement

(1)Parts 1 and 2 come into force in accordance with provision made by order of the Treasury.

(2)An order under this section—

(a)may make different provision for different purposes;

(b)may make transitional or saving provision.

32Short title

This Act may be cited as the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008.

SCHEDULES

Section 5

SCHEDULE 1Provision to be made in articles of association of reclaim fund

Expenses

1(1)The articles of association of a reclaim fund must make provision—

(a)allowing it to defray its expenses out of its income, but

(b)preventing the defraying of expenses that are unreasonable, or to the extent that they are unreasonable.

(2)For the purposes of this paragraph “expenses” includes, in particular, the costs of—

(a)paying fees or remuneration to any member, officer, employee or other person for services provided to the reclaim fund in connection with the carrying out of its functions;

(b)reimbursing any person incurring costs in relation to services provided in connection with the formation of the fund.

No distribution to members

2The articles of association of a reclaim fund must make provision preventing a distribution, including a distribution on winding up, of any of its income or assets to its members (except as allowed for by provision made by virtue of paragraph 1).

Publication of information

3(1)The articles of association of a reclaim fund must make provision requiring it to publish, as soon as possible after the end of each financial year of the fund—

(a)its annual accounts and reports for that year (within the meaning given by section 471 of the Companies Act 2006 (c. 46));

(b)the name of each bank and building society that transferred money to the fund in that year and the amount transferred by each one;

(c)the name of each bank and building society in respect of whose accounts payments were made from the fund in that year following repayment claims and, in relation to each of those banks and building societies, the total of the payments made;

(d)the total amount transferred in that year to the body or bodies for the time being specified in section 16(1).

(2)For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(c)—

(a)“repayment claims” means claims made by virtue of section 1(2)(b) or 2(2)(b);

(b)where an account was previously operated by a bank or building society as part of a business currently carried on by another bank or building society (“the successor”), the account is treated as that of the successor.

Section 15

SCHEDULE 2Amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000

Amendments to Part 2

1(1)Schedule 2 (regulated activities) is amended as follows.

(2)For the heading to Part 1 there is substituted “Regulated activities: general”.

(3)After that Part there is inserted—

“Part 1ARegulated activities: reclaim funds

Activities of reclaim funds

9A(1)The matters with respect to which provision may be made under section 22(1) in respect of activities include, in particular, any of the activities of a reclaim fund.

(2)“Reclaim fund” has the meaning given by section 5(1) of the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008.”

Amendments to Part 7

2After section 106 there is inserted—

“106AReclaim fund business transfer scheme

(1)A scheme is a reclaim fund business transfer scheme if, under the scheme, the whole or part of the business carried on by a reclaim fund is to be transferred to one or more other reclaim funds.

(2)“Reclaim fund” has the meaning given by section 5(1) of the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008.”

3In section 107 (application for order sanctioning transfer scheme), in subsection (1), for “or a banking business transfer scheme” there is substituted “, a banking business transfer scheme or a reclaim fund business transfer scheme”.

4(1)Section 111 (sanction of the court for business transfer schemes) is amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (1), for “or a banking business transfer scheme” there is substituted “, a banking business transfer scheme or a reclaim fund business transfer scheme”.

(3)In subsection (2)—

(a)at the beginning of paragraph (a) there is inserted “in the case of an insurance business transfer scheme or a banking business transfer scheme,”;

(b)after that paragraph there is inserted—

“(aa)in the case of a reclaim fund business transfer scheme, the appropriate certificate has been obtained (as to which see Part 2A of that Schedule);”.

5In Schedule 12, after Part 2 there is inserted—

“Part 2AReclaim fund business transfer schemes

Certificate as to financial resources

9AFor the purposes of section 111(2) the appropriate certificate, in relation to a reclaim fund business transfer scheme, is a certificate given by the Authority certifying that, taking the proposed transfer into account, the transferee possesses, or will possess before the scheme takes effect, adequate financial resources.”

Amendments to Part 24

6(1)Section 359 (administration order) is amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (3) (persons treated as unable to pay their debts), the “and” at the end of paragraph (a) is omitted and at the end of paragraph (b) there is inserted “, and—

(c)an authorised reclaim fund in default on an obligation to pay a sum payable as a result of a claim made by virtue of section 1(2)(b) or 2(2)(b) of the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008.”

(3)In subsection (4) (definitions), at the appropriate place there is inserted—

““authorised reclaim fund” means a reclaim fund within the meaning given by section 5(1) of the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008 that is authorised for the purposes of this Act;”.

7After section 369 there is inserted—

“369AReclaim funds: service of petition etc on Authority

(1)If a person other than the Authority presents a petition for the winding up of an authorised reclaim fund, the petitioner must serve a copy of the petition on the Authority.

(2)If a person other than the Authority applies to have a provisional liquidator appointed under section 135 of the 1986 Act (or Article 115 of the 1989 Order) in respect of an authorised reclaim fund, the applicant must serve a copy of the application on the Authority.

(3)In this section “authorised reclaim fund” means a reclaim fund within the meaning given by section 5(1) of the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008 that is authorised for the purposes of this Act.”

Section 16

SCHEDULE 3Further provision about the functions of the Big Lottery Fund

Part 1Strategic plans

Strategic plans for England

1(1)If the Secretary of State instructs it to do so, the Big Lottery Fund shall—

(a)prepare and adopt a strategic plan for England,

(b)review and modify any such plan that it has adopted, or

(c)replace any such plan that it has adopted by preparing and adopting another.

(2)In this paragraph “strategic plan for England” means a statement containing the Fund’s policies for the distribution of dormant account money for meeting English expenditure.

(3)A strategic plan for England must include—

(a)a statement of any directions given to the Fund under section 22 by the Secretary of State, other than directions given by virtue only of subsection (4) of that section;

(b)a statement of the Fund’s assessment of the needs in England that the Fund has power to deal with, in whole or in part, by distributing dormant account money;

(c)a statement of the Fund’s priorities in dealing with those needs by the distribution of dormant account money.

(4)A strategic plan for England must be such as to demonstrate how the Fund is complying with any directions to which sub-paragraph (3)(a) applies.

(5)Before adopting a strategic plan for England, the Fund shall—

(a)consult such other bodies as it thinks fit for the purpose of identifying the needs mentioned in sub-paragraph (3)(b) and formulating the policies to be adopted for dealing with those needs;

(b)prepare a draft of the proposed plan;

(c)send a copy of the draft to the Secretary of State;

(d)after consultation with the Secretary of State, make such modifications to the draft as it considers necessary or expedient.

(6)Where the Fund adopts a strategic plan for England—

(a)the Fund shall send copies of the document containing the plan to the Secretary of State;

(b)the Secretary of State shall lay a copy of the document before each House of Parliament.

Strategic plans for Wales

2(1)If the Welsh Ministers instruct it to do so, the Big Lottery Fund shall—

(a)prepare and adopt a strategic plan for Wales,

(b)review and modify any such plan that it has adopted, or

(c)replace any such plan that it has adopted by preparing and adopting another.

(2)In this paragraph “strategic plan for Wales” means a statement containing the Fund’s policies for the distribution of dormant account money for meeting Welsh expenditure.

(3)A strategic plan for Wales must include—

(a)a statement of any directions under section 22 given to the Fund by the Welsh Ministers;

(b)a statement of the Fund’s assessment of the needs in Wales that the Fund has power to deal with, in whole or in part, by distributing dormant account money;

(c)a statement of the Fund’s priorities in dealing with those needs by the distribution of dormant account money.

(4)A strategic plan for Wales must be such as to demonstrate how the Fund is complying with any directions to which sub-paragraph (3)(a) applies.

(5)Before adopting a strategic plan for Wales, the Fund shall—

(a)consult such other bodies as it thinks fit for the purpose of identifying the needs mentioned in sub-paragraph (3)(b) and formulating the policies to be adopted for dealing with those needs;

(b)prepare a draft of the proposed plan;

(c)send a copy of the draft to the Welsh Ministers;

(d)after consultation with the Welsh Ministers, make such modifications to the draft as it considers necessary or expedient.

(6)Where the Fund adopts a strategic plan for Wales—

(a)the Fund shall send copies of the document containing the plan to the Welsh Ministers;

(b)the Welsh Ministers shall lay a copy of the document before the National Assembly for Wales.

Strategic plans for Scotland

3(1)If the Scottish Ministers instruct it to do so, the Big Lottery Fund shall—

(a)prepare and adopt a strategic plan for Scotland,

(b)review and modify any such plan that it has adopted, or

(c)replace any such plan that it has adopted by preparing and adopting another.

(2)In this paragraph “strategic plan for Scotland” means a statement containing the Fund’s policies for the distribution of dormant account money for meeting Scottish expenditure.

(3)A strategic plan for Scotland must include—

(a)a statement of any directions under section 22 given to the Fund by the Scottish Ministers;

(b)a statement of the Fund’s assessment of the needs in Scotland that the Fund has power to deal with, in whole or in part, by distributing dormant account money;

(c)a statement of the Fund’s priorities in dealing with those needs by the distribution of dormant account money.

(4)A strategic plan for Scotland must be such as to demonstrate how the Fund is complying with any directions to which sub-paragraph (3)(a) applies.

(5)Before adopting a strategic plan for Scotland, the Fund shall—

(a)consult such other bodies as it thinks fit for the purpose of identifying the needs mentioned in sub-paragraph (3)(b) and formulating the policies to be adopted for dealing with those needs;

(b)prepare a draft of the proposed plan;

(c)send a copy of the draft to the Scottish Ministers;

(d)after consultation with the Scottish Ministers, make such modifications to the draft as it considers necessary or expedient.

(6)Where the Fund adopts a strategic plan for Scotland—

(a)the Fund shall send copies of the document containing the plan to the Scottish Ministers;

(b)the Scottish Ministers shall lay a copy of the document before the Scottish Parliament.

Strategic plans for Northern Ireland

4(1)If instructed to do so by the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland (“the Department”), the Big Lottery Fund shall—

(a)prepare and adopt a strategic plan for Northern Ireland,

(b)review and modify any such plan that it has adopted, or

(c)replace any such plan that it has adopted by preparing and adopting another.

(2)In this paragraph “strategic plan for Northern Ireland” means a statement containing the Fund’s policies for the distribution of dormant account money for meeting Northern Ireland expenditure.

(3)A strategic plan for Northern Ireland must include—

(a)a statement of any directions under section 22 given to the Fund by the Department;

(b)a statement of the Fund’s assessment of the needs in Northern Ireland that the Fund has power to deal with, in whole or in part, by distributing dormant account money;

(c)a statement of the Fund’s priorities in dealing with those needs by the distribution of dormant account money.

(4)A strategic plan for Northern Ireland must be such as to demonstrate how the Fund is complying with any directions to which sub-paragraph (3)(a) applies.

(5)Before adopting a strategic plan for Northern Ireland, the Fund shall—

(a)consult such other bodies as it thinks fit for the purpose of identifying the needs mentioned in sub-paragraph (3)(b) and formulating the policies to be adopted for dealing with those needs;

(b)prepare a draft of the proposed plan;

(c)send a copy of the draft to the Department;

(d)after consultation with the Department, make such modifications to the draft as it considers necessary or expedient.

(6)Where the Fund adopts a strategic plan for Northern Ireland—

(a)the Fund shall send copies of the document containing the plan to the Department;

(b)the Department shall lay a copy of the document before the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Part 2Delegation etc

Delegation to other bodies or persons, or to committees

5(1)The Big Lottery Fund may appoint any other body or person to exercise on its behalf any of its dormant account functions—

(a)in any particular case, or

(b)in cases of any particular description.

(2)The persons who may be appointed by the Fund under sub-paragraph (1) include a member, employee or committee of the Fund.

(3)The following bodies may accept an appointment under this paragraph (in addition to any that may do so apart from this sub-paragraph)—

(a)a body that distributes money under section 25(1) of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (c. 39);

(b)a charity or a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution;

(c)a body established by or under an enactment;

(d)a body established by Royal Charter.

(4)A body appointed by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) to exercise a function on behalf of the Fund may itself appoint any of its members or employees, or a committee, to exercise the function in its place, but only if—

(a)the terms of the appointment so permit, and

(b)the body has power apart from this paragraph to appoint a member or (as the case may be) an employee or committee of the body to exercise some or all of its functions.

(5)The Fund may establish a committee for the purpose of exercising on its behalf any of its dormant account functions.

(6)A body falling within any paragraph of sub-paragraph (3) may establish a committee for the purpose of exercising on behalf of the Fund any of the Fund’s dormant account functions.

(7)A committee established under sub-paragraph (6)—

(a)must consist of or include one or more members, or one or more employees, of the body establishing the committee, but

(b)may include persons who are neither members nor employees of that body.

Interpretation of paragraph 5

6(1)In paragraph 5—

• “charity” means a body, or the trustees of a trust, established for charitable purposes only;

• “charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution” means a body, or the trustees of a trust, that is established—

  (a)

  for charitable purposes (whether or not those purposes are charitable within the meaning of any rule of law),

  (b)

  for benevolent purposes, or

  (c)

  for philanthropic purposes,

  and is not a charity;

• “dormant account functions” means functions relating to, or connected with, the distribution of dormant account money (including the function of making decisions as to the persons to whom distributions are to be made).

(2)For the purposes of paragraph 5—

(a)the trustees of a trust are to be regarded as a body;

(b)a reference to a member of a body, in the case of a body of trustees, is to be read as a reference to any of the trustees.

(3)A reference in paragraph 5 to a member of a body includes the chairman or deputy chairman of the body (or the holder of any corresponding office in relation to it).

Provision supplementing paragraph 5

7(1)The Big Lottery Fund may make payments in respect of expenditure (which may include expenditure of a capital nature) of a body or person to whom it delegates a function under paragraph 5(1).

(2)Paragraph 5(5) is not to be read as preventing the Fund from—

(a)establishing a committee otherwise than in accordance with that provision, or

(b)authorising a committee (whether or not established in accordance with that provision) to exercise a function of the Fund.

(3)A power conferred on a body by paragraph 5 is so conferred—

(a)to the extent that the body would not have the power apart from that paragraph, and

(b)notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any enactment or instrument relating to the functions of the body.

New functions for existing devolved expenditure committees

8(1)The functions of the committee established under paragraph 7(1)(a) of Schedule 4A to the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (c. 39) are to include exercising the functions of the Big Lottery Fund under this Act in relation to English expenditure.

(2)The functions of the committee established under paragraph 7(1)(b) of that Schedule are to include exercising the functions of the Fund under this Act in relation to Welsh expenditure.

(3)The functions of the committee established under paragraph 7(1)(c) of that Schedule are to include exercising the functions of the Fund under this Act in relation to Scottish expenditure.

(4)The functions of the committee established under paragraph 7(1)(d) of that Schedule are to include exercising the functions of the Fund under this Act in relation to Northern Ireland expenditure.

Part 3Reports and accounts

Annual reports

9(1)As soon as possible after the end of every financial year, the Big Lottery Fund shall prepare a report on the exercise during that year of its functions under this Act.

(2)The report shall set out any directions given to the Fund under section 22 that had effect during the financial year to which the report relates.

(3)The report shall set out the Fund’s policy and practice in relation to the principle that dormant account money should be used to fund projects, or aspects of projects, for which funds would be unlikely to be made available by—

(a)a Government department,

(b)the Welsh Ministers,

(c)the Scottish Ministers, or

(d)a Northern Ireland department.

(4)Every report under this paragraph shall be—

(a)given by the Fund to the Secretary of State and laid by him or her before Parliament;

(b)given by the Fund to the Welsh Ministers and laid by them before the National Assembly for Wales;

(c)given by the Fund to the Scottish Ministers and laid by them before the Scottish Parliament;

(d)given by the Fund to the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland and laid by that Department before the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Accounts

10(1)The Big Lottery Fund shall—

(a)keep proper accounting records relating to the exercise of its functions under this Act, and

(b)prepare in respect of each financial year a statement of accounts relating to the exercise of those functions.

(2)The Fund shall send a copy of a statement under sub-paragraph (1)(b)—

(a)to the Secretary of State;

(b)to the Welsh Ministers;

(c)to the Scottish Ministers;

(d)to the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland;

(e)to the Comptroller and Auditor General.

(3)A copy of a statement must be sent under sub-paragraph (2) within such period, beginning with the end of the financial year to which the statement relates, as the Secretary of State may direct.

(4)The Comptroller and Auditor General shall—

(a)examine, certify and report on a statement received under this paragraph;

(b)lay a copy of the statement and the report on it before Parliament, before the National Assembly for Wales, before the Scottish Parliament and before the Northern Ireland Assembly.

11In Schedule 4A to the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (c. 39) (the Big Lottery Fund), in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 21 (accounts)—

(a)in paragraph (a), after “records” there is inserted “relating to the exercise of its functions under this Act”;

(b)for paragraph (b) there is substituted—

“(b)prepare in respect of each financial year a statement of accounts relating to the exercise of those functions.”

Part 4Miscellaneous powers

Power to solicit applications

12(1)The Big Lottery Fund has power to solicit applications from other bodies or persons for dormant account money.

(2)In determining whether a decision of the Fund concerning its distribution of dormant account money was unlawful, it is immaterial whether or not the Fund, or any person acting on its behalf, solicited an application from a body or person for such money.

Power to consult

13In determining how to distribute dormant account money the Big Lottery Fund may—

(a)consult any person;

(b)take account of opinions expressed to it or information submitted to it.

Power to publish information etc

14(1)The Big Lottery Fund may make or participate in arrangements for—

(a)publishing information relating to the effect of a provision of this Act;

(b)publishing information relating to the distribution of dormant account money or the expenditure of dormant account money that has been distributed;

(c)encouraging participation in activities relating to the distribution of dormant account money.

(2)The reference in section 25E of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (distribution of funds: publicity) to a body which distributes money under section 25(1) of that Act is to be read as including the Big Lottery Fund in its capacity as distributor of dormant account money.

Power to give advice

15The Big Lottery Fund may give advice about—

(a)the distribution of dormant account money;

(b)inviting, making or considering applications for grants and loans out of dormant account money;

(c)the use of dormant account money that has been distributed.