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The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in exercise of powers conferred by sections 36C(4)(a) and (7) and (8) and 36F(3)(a) and (6) to (8) of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985[1], sections 342C(4)(a) and (7) to (9) and 342F(6)(a) and (9) to (11) of the Insolvency Act 1986[2] and sections 11(2)(h) and (10), 12(1) to (3) and 83(1), (2), (4) and (6) of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999[3] and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, hereby makes the following Regulations: Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation 1. - (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Bankruptcy) Regulations 2002 and shall come into force on 6th April 2002. (2) Part II of these Regulations applies to England and Wales. (3) Part III, and (by virtue of regulation 11 of that Part) regulation 2 of Part II, of these Regulations apply to Scotland. (4) In this paragraph and -
Prescribed pension arrangements 2. - (1) The arrangements prescribed for the purposes of section 11(2)(h) of the 1999 Act (pension arrangements which are "approved pension arrangements") are arrangements (including an annuity purchased for the purpose of giving effect to rights under any such arrangement) -
(ii) Article 17A of the Convention set out in the Schedule to the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Republic of Ireland) Order 1976[13] (pension scheme contributions) applies;
(b) made with a scheme which is a retirement benefits scheme -
(ii) to which section 608 of the Taxes Act (superannuation funds approved before 6th April 1980) applies;
(c) to which section 595(1) of the Taxes Act (charge to tax in respect of certain sums paid by the employer etc.) does not apply by virtue of section 596(2)(b) of that Act[16];
(ii) an occupational pension scheme established under the auspices of a government department or by any person acting on behalf of the Crown;
(f) referred to in paragraph (b)(ii) of section 630(1) of the Taxes Act[18] (definition of "approved" for the purposes of Chapter IV of Part XIV of that Act).
(2) Paragraph (1)(e) above does not apply to an arrangement entered into on, or after, 14th March 1989 for the purpose of providing an employee with relevant benefits calculated by reference to so much of his annual remuneration as is in excess of the permitted maximum; and for these purposes the "permitted maximum" means the permitted maximum for any year of assessment during which such a person is a member of a scheme referred to in paragraph (1)(e) above and shall be the figure specified -
(b) by order in accordance with subsection (6) of that section for each year subsequent to 1989-90.
(3) For the purposes of this regulation -
(b) "occupational pension scheme" has the meaning given in section 1 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993[20]; (c) "public service pension scheme" has the meaning given in section 1 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993; (d) "year of assessment" has the meaning given in section 832(1) of the Taxes Act.
Unapproved pension arrangements
(b) falling within section 11(6) of the 1999 Act (which deals with a scheme which, after the date of the bankruptcy order, has its approval under Chapter I or, as the case may be, Chapter IV of Part XIV of the Taxes Act withdrawn from a date not later than the date of that order); or (c) under -
(ii) an unfunded unapproved retirement benefits scheme,
shall be an "unapproved pension arrangement" if it satisfies the conditions specified in paragraph (2) below.
(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) above are that the pension arrangement -
(ii) a contract, agreement or arrangement made with the bankrupt;
(b) has as its primary purpose the provision of relevant benefits; and
(3) For the purposes of section 12(2)(c) of the 1999 Act, the prescribed person shall be the responsible person.
(b) enter into a qualifying agreement with the trustee in bankruptcy in accordance with the provisions of regulation 6 below.
Exclusion orders
(ii) in the case of a scheme referred to in regulation 3(1)(a) or (b) above, the date, if later than that referred to in head (i) above, on which any rights of the bankrupt vest in the trustee in bankruptcy in accordance with section 11(5) or, as the case may be, (7) of the 1999 Act; or
(b) thirty days beginning with the date on which a qualifying agreement is revoked in accordance with the provisions of regulation 6 below.
(2) The court may, either before or after it has expired and where good cause is shown, extend the period referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or, as the case may be, (1)(b) above.
(b) whether any benefits by way of pension or otherwise (other than a pension under Part II of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 or Part II of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (contributory benefits) or an income-related benefit) are likely to be received by virtue of rights of the bankrupt which have already accrued under any other pension arrangements at the date on which the application for an exclusion order is made and the extent to which they appear likely to be adequate for meeting any such needs.
Qualifying agreements
(b) in the case of a scheme referred to in regulation 3(1)(a) or (b) above, the date, if later than that referred to in sub-paragraph (a) above, on which any rights of the bankrupt vest in the trustee in bankruptcy in accordance with section 11(5) or, as the case may be, (7) of the 1999 Act.
(2) A qualifying agreement made between the bankrupt and the trustee in bankruptcy shall be by deed and incorporate all the terms which they have expressly agreed.
(b) has failed to do so for the purpose of enabling his rights under such an arrangement to be excluded from his estate for the purposes of Parts VIII to XI of the 1986 Act where they would not have otherwise been excluded,
the trustee in bankruptcy may revoke that agreement by giving the bankrupt notice of revocation.
(b) be in writing; (c) specify the reasons for revocation of the qualifying agreement; (d) specify the date on which the agreement shall be revoked, such date not being one falling within a period of thirty days beginning with the date of the notice; and (e) inform the bankrupt that he has the right to apply for an exclusion order within a period of thirty days beginning with the date referred to in sub-paragraph (d) above.
(5) Where a qualifying agreement has been made or revoked in accordance with the provisions of this regulation, the trustee in bankruptcy shall, within a period of thirty days beginning with the date on which that agreement was made or, in the case of a notice of revocation, the date required under paragraph (4)(a) above, notify the responsible person in writing of that fact.
(b) calculated and verified in accordance with paragraph (2) below.
(2) In calculating and verifying the cash equivalent of the transferee's rights referred to in paragraph (1) above, regulation 24 of the Pension Sharing (Pension Credit Benefit) Regulations 2000[25] shall have effect for the purposes of this regulation in like manner to that in which it has effect for the calculation and verification of pension credit for the purposes of those Regulations.
(b) the bankrupt for, or in connection with, the making of a qualifying agreement referred to in regulation 6 above; or (c) the trustee in bankruptcy -
(ii) pursuant to section 342F(1) to (3) of the 1986 Act (which enables the transferor's trustee in bankruptcy to request the responsible person to provide information which he may reasonably need for the making of an application under sections 339 and 340 of the 1986 Act) and relating to the cash equivalent of a transferee's rights under a destination arrangement,
he shall comply with that request within a period of nine weeks beginning with the day on which it is received.
(2) In the case of a request for information falling within sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (1) above, the court may, either before or after it has expired and where good cause is shown, extend the period referred to in that paragraph. Prescribed pension arrangements 11. For the purposes of section 11(2)(h) of the 1999 Act, regulation 2 above shall apply to Scotland in like manner to that in which it applies to England and Wales. Unapproved pension arrangements 12. - (1) For the purposes of section 12 of the 1999 Act, a pension arrangement -
(b) falling within section 11(6) of the 1999 Act (which deals with a scheme which, after the date of the award of sequestration or the appointment of a judicial factor, has its approval under Chapter I or, as the case may be, Chapter IV of Part XIV of the Taxes Act withdrawn from a date not later than the date of that order); or (c) under -
(ii) an unfunded unapproved retirement benefits scheme,
shall be an "unapproved pension arrangement" if it satisfies the conditions specified in paragraph (2) below.
(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) above are that the pension arrangement -
(ii) a contract, agreement or arrangement made with the debtor;
(b) has as its primary purpose the provision of relevant benefits; and
(3) For the purposes of section 12(2)(c) of the 1999 Act, the prescribed person shall be the responsible person.
(b) enter into a qualifying agreement with the permanent trustee or judicial factor in accordance with the provisions of regulation 15 below.
Exclusion orders
(ii) in the case of a scheme referred to in regulation 12(1)(a) or (b) above, the date, if later than that referred to in head (i) above, on which any rights of the debtor vest in the permanent trustee or judicial factor in accordance with section 11(5) or, as the case may be, (7) of the 1999 Act; or
(b) thirty days beginning with the date on which a qualifying agreement is revoked in accordance with the provisions of regulation 15 below.
(2) The court may, either before or after it has expired and on cause shown, extend the period referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or, as the case may be, (1)(b) above.
(b) whether any benefits by way of pension or otherwise (other than a pension under Part II of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 or Part II of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (contributory benefits) or an income-related benefit) are likely to be received by virtue of rights of the debtor which have already accrued under any other pension arrangements at the date on which the application for an exclusion order is made and the extent to which they appear likely to be adequate for meeting any such needs.
Qualifying agreements
(b) in the case of a scheme referred to in regulation 12(1)(a) or (b) above, the date, if later than that referred to in sub-paragraph (a) above, on which any rights of the debtor vest in the permanent trustee or judicial factor in accordance with section 11(5) or, as the case may be, (7) of the 1999 Act.
(2) A qualifying agreement shall -
(b) incorporate all the terms which the debtor and the permanent trustee or judicial factor have expressly agreed; and (c) be subscribed by the debtor and the permanent trustee or judicial factor, in each case in accordance with section 3(1) of the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995[26].
(3) Where -
(b) has failed to do so for the purpose of enabling his rights under such an arrangement to be excluded from his estate for the purposes of the 1980 Act or the 1985 Act where they would not have otherwise been excluded,
the permanent trustee or judicial factor may revoke that agreement by giving the debtor notice of revocation.
(b) be in writing; (c) specify the reasons for revocation of the qualifying agreement; (d) specify the date on which that agreement shall be revoked, such date not being one falling within a period of thirty days beginning with the date of the notice; and (e) inform the debtor that he has the right to apply for an exclusion order within a period of thirty days beginning with the date on which the agreement falls to be revoked in accordance with that notice.
(5) Where a qualifying agreement has been made or revoked in accordance with the provisions of this regulation, the permanent trustee or judicial factor shall, within a period of thirty days beginning with the date on which the agreement was made or, in the case of a notice of revocation, the date required under paragraph (4)(a) above, notify the responsible person in writing of that fact.
(b) calculated and verified in accordance with paragraph (2) below.
(2) In calculating and verifying the cash equivalent of the transferee's rights referred to in paragraph (1) above, regulation 24 of the Pension Sharing (Pension Credit Benefit) Regulations 2000 shall have effect for the purposes of this regulation in like manner to that in which it has effect for the calculation and verification of pension credit for the purposes of those Regulations.
(b) the debtor for, or in connection with, the making of a qualifying agreement referred to in regulation 15 above; or (c) the permanent trustee -
(ii) pursuant to section 36F(1) of the 1985 Act (which enables the transferor's permanent trustee to request the responsible person to provide information which he may reasonably need for the making of an application under sections 34 to 36 of the 1985 Act) and relating to the cash equivalent of a transferee's rights under a pension arrangement referred to in regulation 18(1) above,
he shall comply with that request within a period of nine weeks beginning with the day on which it is received.
(2) In the case of a request for information falling within sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (1) above, the court may, either before or after it has expired and on cause shown, extend the period referred to in that paragraph. (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations, which apply to England, Wales and Scotland, make provision for the treatment of rights under certain pension arrangements in the event of a person's bankruptcy. Part I of these Regulations provides for citation, commencement, extent and interpretation. Part II, which consists of regulations 2 to 10, applies to England and Wales. Regulation 2 prescribes pension arrangements which qualify as "prescribed pension arrangements" for the purposes of section 11(2)(h) of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 thereby excluding any rights of a bankrupt under such arrangements from his estate by virtue of section 11(1) of that Act. Regulation 3 specifies pension arrangements which qualify as "unapproved pension arrangements". Regulation 4 sets out the ways in which an unapproved pension arrangement can be excluded from a bankrupt's estate. Regulation 5 provides, in relation to a prescribed "unapproved pension arrangement", for the making of an "exclusion order" excluding the rights of a bankrupt under such an arrangement from his estate. Paragraph (1) sets out the time limits for applying to the court for such an order. Paragraph (3) specifies the matters to be considered by the court in deciding whether or not to make such an order. Regulation 6 provides, in relation to a prescribed "unapproved pension arrangement", for the making of a "qualifying agreement" between the bankrupt and the trustee in bankruptcy excluding the rights of a bankrupt under such an arrangement from his estate. Paragraph (1) sets out the time limits for the making of such an agreement. Paragraph (2) specifies the form and content of a "qualifying agreement". Paragraph (3) provides, in certain circumstances, for the revocation of such an agreement by the trustee in bankruptcy by giving the bankrupt a "notice of revocation" and paragraph (4) specifies the form and content of such a notice. Regulation 7 provides for the calculation and verification of the cash equivalent of a bankrupt's rights under an "approved pension arrangement", or his excluded rights under an "unapproved pension arrangement", for the purpose of enabling the court to determine whether to make an order ("a restoration order") under section 342A of the Insolvency Act 1986. Regulation 8 provides that where a "restoration order" has been made, the person responsible for the pension arrangement in question must comply with that order within the prescribed time. Regulation 9 provides for the calculation and verification of the cash equivalent of a person's pension rights where those rights are derived directly, or indirectly, from a pension-sharing transaction. Regulation 10 specifies the periods within which the person responsible for the pension arrangement in question has to comply with a request for information. Part III, which consists of regulations 11 to 19, applies to Scotland. Regulation 11 applies regulation 2 to Scotland. Regulations 12 to 15 provide for the making of exclusion orders and qualifying agreements in relation to "unapproved pension arrangements" in like manner to the provisions which apply to England and Wales by virtue of regulations 3 to 6. Regulations 16 and 18 provide for the calculation and verification of cash equivalents of a debtor's or a transferee's rights under an "approved pension arrangement", or his excluded rights under an "unapproved pension arrangement", on a similar basis to that which applies in England and Wales in respect of a bankrupt's rights by virtue of regulations 7 and 9. Regulation 17 is the equivalent of regulation 8. Regulation 19 is the equivalent of regulation 10. Regulation 1(4)(c), which applies specifically to Scotland, provides that in regulations 12 to 15 and 19 "debtor" includes a solicitor on whose estate a judicial factor has been appointed under section 41 of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980. These Regulations have only a negligible cost for business: a Regulatory Impact Assessment is not therefore necessary. Notes: [1] 1985 c. 66. Section 36C was substituted by section 16 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30) ("the 1999 Act") and section 36F was inserted by paragraph 69 of Schedule 12 to the Act.back [2] 1986 c. 45. Section 342C was substituted by section 15 of the 1999 Act and section 342F was inserted by paragraph 71 of Schedule 12 to that Act.back [4] 1992 c. 4. Section 123(1) was amended by section 103 of, and paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 9 to, the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c. 14) and paragraphs 1(a) and (b) and 2(f) of Schedule 1 to the Tax Credits Act 1999 (c. 10).back [6] Section 342E(1)(b) was inserted by paragraph 71 of Schedule 12 to the 1999 Act.back [7] Section 342D(9) was inserted by paragraph 71 of Schedule 12 to the 1999 Act.back [8] Section 342A was substituted by section 15 of the 1999 Act.back [10] Section 41 was amended by section 56 of, and paragraph 19(a)-(g) of Part I of Schedule 1 to, the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1985 (c. 73) and section 6(1) and (2) to, and paragraph 13 of Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 to, the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1988 (c. 42).back [11] Section 36D(10) was inserted by paragraph 69 of Schedule 12 to the 1999 Act.back [12] Section 36A was substituted by section 16 of the 1999 Act.back [13] S.I. 1976/2151. Article 17A was added by Article 1 of the Protocol set out in the Schedule to S.I. 1995/764.back [14] Section 590 was amended by section 35 of, and paragraph 18 of Part I of Schedule 3 to, the Finance Act 1988 (c. 39), sections 75 and 187 of, and paragraphs 3(1) to (4) and 18(2) and (3) of Schedule 6 and Part IV of Schedule 17 to, the Finance Act 1989 (c. 26), sections 34(2) to (4), 36(2) and (3) and 123 of, and Part V of Schedule 19 to, the Finance Act 1991 (c. 31) and section 79 of, and paragraph 2 of Schedule 10 to, the Finance Act 1999 (c. 16). Section 591 was amended by section 146 of, and paragraph 6 of Part I of Schedule 13 to, the Finance Act 1988, sections 107(2) to (4) and 258 of, and Part V of Schedule 26 to, the Finance Act 1994 (c. 9), sections 59(2) and 60(1) of the Finance Act 1995 (c. 4) and section 79 of, and paragraphs 3 and 18(1) and (3) of Schedule 10 to, the Finance Act 1999.back [15] Section 592 was amended by section 75 of, and paragraphs 5(2) to (4) and 18(4) of Schedule 6 to, the Finance Act 1989 and section 112(1) of the Finance Act 1993 (c. 34).back [16] Paragraph 2 was amended by section 187 of, and Part IV of Schedule 17 to, the Finance Act 1995.back [17] Section 614 was amended by section 258 of, and Part V of Schedule 26 to, the Finance Act 1994 and sections 104 and 105 of, and paragraph 34 of Schedule 14 to, the Finance Act 1996 (c. 8). Section 615 was amended by section 2 of the Overseas Superannuation Act 1991 (c. 16) and section 79 of, and paragraph 11 of Schedule 10 to, the Finance Act 1999.back [18] Section 630 was amended by paragraph 2 of Schedule 11 to the Finance Act 1995 and the definition of "approved" was amended by section 61 of, and paragraph 5(2) of Schedule 13 to, the Finance Act 2000 (c. 17).back [19] Section 590C was inserted by paragraph 4 of Schedule 6 to the Finance Act 1989.back [22] Section 342B was substituted by section 15 of the 1999 Act.back [24] Section 342E was inserted by paragraph 71 of Schedule 12 to the 1999 Act.back [27] Section 36B was substituted by section 16 of the 1999 Act.back [29] Section 36E was inserted by paragraph 69 of Schedule 12 to the 1999 Act.back
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