The National Health Service Superannuation Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2017

Made: 1st February 2017

Laid before the Scottish Parliament: 3rd February 2017

Coming into force: 13th March 2017

In accordance with section 10(1) of that Act, these Regulations are made with the consent of the Treasury.

PART 1 — Introductory

Citation, commencement and effect

1

• (1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service Superannuation Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 and come into force on 13th March 2017.

• (2) Provisions in these Regulations have effect as follows—

• (a) regulation 47 has effect from 1st April 2009;

• (b) regulations 3(d), 10, 17(c), 18, 19, 24, 32(d), 33, 34, 36 and 39 have effect from 31st December 2014;

• (c) regulation 12 has effect from 1st April 2015;

• (d) regulations 26 and 41 have effect from 6th April 2015;

• (e) regulations 5, 20 and 21 have effect from 1st April 2016;

• (f) regulations 3(c), 6 to 8, 11, 13, 14, 23, 25, 31, 38 , 40 and 46 have effect from 6th April 2016.

PART 2 — Amendment of the National Health Service Superannuation Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2011

General

2

The National Health Service Superannuation Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2011[^f00002] are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 15.

Amendment of regulation A2

3

In regulation A2 (interpretation), in paragraph (4)—

• (a) in column 2 of the entry for “buy-out policy”, at the end insert “: and “buy-out” is to be construed accordingly”;

• (b) in column 2 of the entry for “cash equivalent”, for “Chapter IV of Part IV” insert “Chapter 1 (transfer rights: general) of Part 4ZA”;

• (c) after the entry for “commissioned services”, insert—

“contracted-out employment”	the meaning given in section 8 of the 1993 Act;

; and

• (d) after the entry for “shareable rights”, insert—

“shared parental leave”	the meaning given in regulation 3 of the Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014[^f00003];

Amendment of regulation B4

4

In regulation B4 (opting out of this Section of the scheme)—

• (a) in paragraph (6), for “and” substitute “to”; and

• (b) for paragraph (7), substitute—

(7) This paragraph applies if the person opts out of this Section of the scheme in relation to NHS pensionable employment— (a) before the end of 3 months after that person’s first day of that pensionable employment (or within any longer period the scheme manager considers appropriate); or (b) before the end of 3 months after that person’s automatic re-enrolment date (or within any longer period the scheme manager considers appropriate). (7A) Where paragraph (7)(a) applies, the person is taken never to have been in pensionable service in this Section of the scheme. (7B) Where sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (7) applies, the person is taken never to have been in pensionable service in this Section of the scheme during the period referred to in that sub-paragraph.

Amendment of regulation D1

5

In regulation D1 (contributions by members)—

• (a) in paragraph (2)—

• (i) after sub-paragraph (b), insert—

; (c) for the scheme year 2017-18 is the percentage specified in column 2 of table 3 in respect of the corresponding pensionable pay band specified in column 1 of that table into which the member’s pensionable pay falls

; and

• (ii) after Table 2, insert—

Column 1 Pensionable pay band	Column 2 Contribution percentage rate
Up to £16,528	5.2%
£16,529 - £22,217	5.8%
£22,218 - £27,634	7.3%
£27,635 - £50,971	9.5%
£50,972 - £72,770	12.7%
£72,771 - £113,625	13.7%
£113,626 to any higher amount	14.7%

• (b) in paragraph (2A)—

• (i) for “2015-16”, substitute “2016-17”; and

• (ii) for “table 2”, substitute “table 3”; and

• (c) in each of paragraphs (20), (21)(a) and (25)(b), for “table 2” substitute “table 3”.

Amendment of regulation K1

6

In regulation K1 (contracting-out conditions to be overriding), in paragraph (2)(c) after “or (c)” insert “or (2)”.

Amendment of regulation K4

7

In regulation K4 (early leavers)—

• (a) for paragraph (1), substitute—

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), this paragraph applies if a member who is under guaranteed minimum pension age— (a) leaves contracted-out employment under this Section of the scheme before 6th April 2016; or (b) was in contracted-out employment under this Section of the scheme on 5th April 2016 but leaves pensionable employment on or after 6th April 2016. (1A) Where paragraph (1) applies, the member’s guaranteed minimum pension at the date of leaving will be increased, when the member reaches guaranteed minimum pension age or dies (if earlier), by the appropriate percentage specified in relation to each relevant year in the last order under section 148 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992[^f00004] (revaluation of earnings factors) to come into force before the tax year in which the member reaches guaranteed minimum pension age or dies (if earlier).

• (b) in paragraph (2), for “paragraph (1)” substitute “paragraph (1A)”; and

• (c) in paragraph (3)—

• (i) for “returns to contracted-out”, substitute “to whom paragraph (1) applies returns to pensionable”; and

• (ii) omit “contracted-out” where it second occurs.

Amendment of regulation K5

8

In regulation K5 (guaranteed minimum pensions transferred to this Section of the scheme), for paragraph (1) substitute—

(1) This paragraph applies where a guaranteed minimum pension has been transferred to this Section of the scheme and the member— (a) subsequently leaves contracted-out employment under this Section of the scheme before 6th April 2016; or (b) was in contracted-out employment under this Section of the scheme on 5th April 2016 but leaves pensionable employment on or after 6th April 2016. (1A) Where paragraph (1) applies, the guaranteed minimum pension transferred to this Section of the scheme will be increased for each complete tax year after the date of leaving under this Section of the scheme in which the transferred guaranteed minimum pension accrued, until the member reaches guaranteed minimum pension age or dies (if earlier).

Amendment of regulation M1

9

In regulation M1 (member’s right to a transfer or buy out)—

• (a) in paragraph (2)(a), at the end insert “which satisfies or satisfy the requirements set out in regulation 12(2) of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Transfer Values) Regulations 1996[^f00005]”;

• (b) in paragraph (2)(b), omit “that satisfies the requirements of Chapter IV of Part IV of the 1993 Act”; and

• (c) after paragraph (2), insert—

(2A) Any use of the cash equivalent of a member’s rights under paragraph (2) mustsatisfytherequirementsofChapter1(transferrights:general)ofPart4ZAofthe1993 Act.

Amendment of regulation P1

10

In regulation P1 (maternity, paternity and adoption absence), in each of paragraphs (1), (2) and (4) after “parental” insert “, shared parental”.

Amendment of regulation Q1

11

In regulation Q1 (right to buy additional service), in paragraph (16) for the words from “provided” to the end substitute “up to and including 5th April 2016 provided that the employment giving rise to that service was not contracted-out employment”.

Amendment of regulation R7

12

In regulation R7 (former members of health service schemes), in paragraph (8)(b) after “Act” insert “or paragraph 2 of schedule 7 of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014[^f00006]”.

Amendment of regulation T7

13

In regulation T7 (loss of rights to benefits), in paragraph (3) after “(c)” insert “or paragraph (2)”.

Amendment of regulation T8

14

In regulation T8 (commutation of trivial pensions), for paragraph (3)(a) substitute—

(a) the preservation requirements;

Amendment of paragraph 14 of schedule 1

15

In paragraph 14 (contributions to this Section of the scheme) of schedule 1 (medical and dental practitioners), in sub-paragraph (2)—

• (a) after paragraph (c), insert—

; (d) in respect of the 2017-2018 scheme year, table 4

; and

• (b) after table 3, insert—

Column 1 Pensionable earnings band	Column 2 Contribution percentage rate
Up to £16,528	5.2%
£16,529 - £22,217	5.8%
£22,218 - £27,634	7.3%
£27,635 - £50,971	9.5%
£50,972 - £72,770	12.7%
£72,771 - £113,625	13.7%
£113,626 to any higher amount	14.7%

PART 3 — Amendment of the National Health Service Superannuation Scheme (2008 Section) (Scotland) Regulations 2013

General

16

The National Health Service Superannuation Scheme (2008 Section) (Scotland) Regulations 2013[^f00007] are amended in accordance with regulations 17 to 46.

Amendment of regulation 2.A.1

17

In regulation 2.A.1 (interpretation of Part 2: general))—

• (a) in the definition of “buy-out policy”, after “Act” insert “and satisfies any requirement of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs”;

• (b) in the definition of “cash equivalent”, for “Chapter 4 (transfer values) of Part 4” substitute “Chapter 1 (transfer rights: general) of Part 4ZA”;

• (c) omit the definition of “safeguarded rights”; and

• (d) after the definition of “section 17C agreement provider”, insert—

• “shared parental leave” has the meaning given in regulation 3 of the Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014;

Amendment of regulation 2.A.5

18

In regulation 2.A.5 (pensionable service: breaks in service)—

• (a) in paragraph (1)(e), after “leave” insert “or shared parental leave”; and

• (b) in paragraph (8)(e), after “leave” insert “or shared parental leave”.

Amendment of regulation 2.A.10

19

In regulation 2.A.10 (pensionable pay: breaks in service), in paragraph (1)(e) after “leave” insert “or shared parental leave”.

Amendment of regulation 2.C.2

20

In regulation 2.C.2 (contribution rate for members other than non-GP providers), in paragraph (2)—

• (a) after sub-paragraph (b), insert—

; (c) for the scheme year 2017-18 is the percentage specified in column 2 of table 3 in respect of the corresponding pensionable pay band specified in column 1 of that table into which the member’s pensionable pay falls

; and

• (b) after table 2, insert—

Column 1 Pensionable pay band	Column 2 Contribution percentage rate
Up to £16,528	5.2%
£16,529 - £22,217	5.8%
£22,218 - £27,634	7.3%
£27,635 - £50,971	9.5%
£50,972 - £72,770	12.7%
£72,771 - £113,625	13.7%
£113,626 to any higher amount	14.7%

Amendment of regulation 2.C.3

21

In regulation 2.C.3 (determination of pensionable pay for the purposes of setting a contribution rate for members other than non-GP providers), in each of paragraphs (16), (17)(a) and (21)(b), for “table 2” substitute “table 3”.

Amendment of regulation 2.C.18

22

In regulation 2.C.18 (repayment of contributions)—

• (a) in paragraph (1)(b), for “Chapter 5 (early leavers: cash transfer sums and contribution refunds) of Part 4” substitute “Chapter 2 (early leavers: cash transfer sums and contribution refunds) of Part 4ZA”;

• (b) in paragraph (3), for Chapter 5 of Part 4” substitute “Chapter 2 of Part 4ZA”; and

• (c) in paragraph (8), for “Chapter 5 (early leavers: cash transfer sums and contribution refunds) of Part 4” substitute “Chapter 2 of Part 4ZA”.

Amendment of regulation 2.D.21

23

In regulation 2.D.21 (guaranteed minimum pensions etc.), in paragraph (9)(c) for “regulation 60 of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) Regulations 1996” substitute “regulation 25 of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Schemes that were Contracted-out) (No. 2) Regulations 2015[^f00008]”.

Amendment of regulation 2.E.24

24

In regulation 2.E.24 (death during period of absence), in paragraph (1)(d) for “or parental leave” substitute “, parental leave or shared parental leave”.

Amendment of regulation 2.E.27

25

In regulation 2.E.27 (guaranteed minimum pension for surviving spouses and civil partners), in paragraph (3) for the words after “forfeited” substitute—

following a conviction for— (a) treason; (b) an offence under the Official Secrets Acts 1911 to 1989 referred to in regulation 2.J.8(2)(b); or (c) murder or culpable homicide or any other offence of unlawful killing referred to in regulation 2.J.8(4).

Amendment of regulation 2.F.1

26

In regulation 2.F.1 (introduction: rights to transfer value payment)—

• (a) in paragraph (1), for the words from “Chapter 4” to the end substitute “Chapter 1 (transfer rights: general) of Part 4ZA of the 1993 Act”;

• (b) in paragraph (2), for the words from “Chapter 4” to the end substitute “that Chapter or Chapter 2 (early leavers: cash transfer sums and contribution refunds) of that Part”; and

• (c) in paragraph (3)—

• (i) in sub-paragraph (a), for “Chapter 4” substitute “Chapter 1”; and

• (ii) in sub-paragraph (b), for “Chapter 5” substitute “Chapter 2”.

Amendment of regulation 2.F.5

27

In regulation 2.F.5 (ways in which transfer value payments may be applied)—

• (a) in paragraph (1), for “If Chapter 4 of Part 4 of the 1993 Act applies to a member, that member” substitute “A deferred member”; and

• (b) after paragraph (5), insert—

(6) Paragraph (1) applies whether or not the deferred member is entitled to a guaranteed cash equivalent transfer value payment under Chapter 1 (transfer rights: general) of Part 4ZA of the 1993 Act.

Amendment of regulation 2.F.9

28

In regulation 2.F.9 (procedure for applications under regulation 2.F.8), in paragraph (1)(c)(ii) after “2013 Act” insert “or paragraph 2 of schedule 7 of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014”.

Amendment of regulation 2.J.6

29

In regulation 2.J.6 (commutation of small pensions), omit paragraph (2)(a).

Amendment of regulation 2.J.7

30

In regulation 2.J.7 (reduction in benefits in cases where loss caused by member’s crime, negligence or fraud), in paragraph (2)(a) omit the words after “minimum pension”.

Amendment of regulation 2.J.8

31

In regulation 2.J.8 (forfeiture of rights to benefits), in paragraph (6)—

• (a) omit “or safeguarded rights which are derived from rights to such pensions”; and

• (b) at the end, insert “or to which paragraph (4) applies”.

Amendment of regulation 3.A.1

32

In regulation 3.A.1 (interpretation of Part 3: general)—

• (a) in the definition of “buy-out policy”, after “Act” insert “and satisfies any requirement of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs”;

• (b) in the definition of “cash equivalent”, for “Chapter 4 (transfer values) of Part 4” insert “Chapter 1 (transfer rights: general) of Part 4ZA”;

• (c) omit the definition of “safeguarded rights”; and

• (d) after the definition of “section 17C agreement provider”, insert—

• “shared parental leave” has the meaning given in regulation 3 of the Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014[^f00009];

Amendment of regulation 3.A.4

33

In regulation 3.A.4 (pensionable service: breaks in service)—

• (a) in paragraph (1)(e), after “leave” insert “or shared parental leave”; and

• (b) in paragraph (8)(e), after “leave” insert “or shared parental leave”.

Amendment of regulation 3.A.8

34