Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Teachers' Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 2004 and shall come into force on 31st March 2004 except for regulation 30(4) which shall come into force on 1st September 2004.

Amendment of the Teachers' Pensions Regulations 1997

2.The Teachers' Pensions Regulations 1997( 3 ) shall be amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 32.

3. —(1) Regulation A3 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (2) after “under regulation G8(1), G7(1)(c) or G8(5), as the case may be, shall” insert “, subject to the provisions of section 37 of the 2002 Act,”.

4. After regulation B1 insert the following—

“ Provision for certain organisers

B1A. —(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person

(a) who was employed as an organiser by a local education authority or an accepted function provider on or after 1st January 1977 in employment which was not pensionable employment,

(b) in respect of whom there has been paid to the Secretary of State, in respect of a period or periods of such employment, an amount equivalent to the amount which should have been paid as contributions under Parts C and G (and under equivalent provisions in the 1976 and 1988 Regulations, if relevant) if that person had been in pensionable employment, and

(c) who would, or would have, become entitled either before 31st July 2004 or, in the case of a person who ceased prior to 10th December 2003 to be so employed, on or after 31st July 2004 to payment of any benefit under these Regulations (or the 1976 or 1988 Regulations, if relevant) if that period or those periods had been pensionable employment

is deemed to be, or to have been, entitled to payment of an amount or amounts equivalent to the benefits to which he would be, or would have been, entitled under these Regulations (or the 1976 or 1988 Regulations, if relevant) as if that period or those periods had been pensionable employment.

(2) If a person to whom paragraph (1) would otherwise apply either expressly or by his conduct indicates that he does not wish it to apply to him, then it shall not so apply.

(3) A person

(a) who was employed as an organiser by a local education authority or an accepted function provider on or after 1st January 1977 in employment which was not pensionable employment, and

(b) in respect of whom the Secretary of State pays, or has paid, before 31st July 2004 an amount, in respect of a period or periods of such employment, equivalent to the amount which should be, or have been, paid as a transfer value or cash equivalent under Part F (or under the equivalent provisions of the 1976 or 1988 Regulations, if relevant) or otherwise if that person had been in pensionable employment and entitled to payment of a transfer value

is deemed to have been entitled to payment of that amount.

(4) This paragraph applies to a person

(a) who is not a person to whom paragraph (1) or (3) applies,

(b) who prior to 10th December 2003 was employed as an organiser by a local education authority or an accepted function provider in employment which was not, apart from this regulation, pensionable employment,

(c) in respect of whom there has been paid to the Secretary of State, in respect of a period or periods of such employment, an amount equivalent to the amount which should have been paid as contributions under Parts C and G (and under equivalent provisions in the 1976 and 1988 Regulations, if relevant) if that person had been in pensionable employment, and

(d) who makes an election by 31st July 2004 in a form to be specified by the Secretary of State for that period or those periods to be pensionable employment.

(5) In the case of a person to whom paragraph (4) applies, subject to regulations B1(5) and B4, the period or periods of employment referred to in paragraph (4)(d) shall be deemed to have been pensionable employment for the purpose of these Regulations.

(6) This paragraph applies to a person

(a) to whom paragraph (4) applies, and

(b) who remains employed as an organiser by a local education authority or accepted function provider to undertake the same, or substantially the same, functions as he was undertaking immediately prior to the date of the election referred to in paragraph (4)(d) under either the same contract of employment or a contract of employment which has effect by virtue of regulation 5 of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 ( 4 ) .

(7) A person to whom paragraph (6) applies is

(a) subject to regulations B1(5), B4 and B5, in pensionable employment, and

(b) in relevant employment under category B (if employed by a local education authority) or C (if employed by an accepted function provider) for the purpose of the Teachers (Compensation for Redundancy and Premature Retirement) Regulations 1997 ( 5 ) .

(8) Upon paragraph (6) ceasing to apply to a person, he shall cease to be in pensionable employment and in relevant employment for the purpose of the Teachers (Compensation for Redundancy and Premature Retirement) Regulations 1997 by virtue of this regulation. ” .

5. —(1) Regulation B3 shall be amended as follows.

(2) For paragraph (3) substitute the following—

“ (3) The establishments that may be accepted are—

(a) an independent school registered under section 161 of the 2002 Act,

(b) an establishment which provides further education constituted by an amalgamation of establishments which provided such education of which at least one was an accepted school, and

(c) a school which is a member of COBISEC and is located in a member state of the European Union (other than the United Kingdom). ” .

(3) After paragraph (4) insert the following—

“ (4A) An establishment may only be accepted where there is in force a guarantee, indemnity or bond in a form and amount and provided by a person approved by the Secretary of State which provides for payment to the Secretary of State of all liabilities of the establishment under these Regulations or under the Teachers' Superannuation (Additional Voluntary Contributions) Regulations 1994 ( 6 ) should the establishment fail to meet them. ” .

(4) For paragraph (5) substitute the following—

“ (5) No establishment need be accepted, but, if an establishment is accepted, its acceptance takes effect as from a date to be agreed between the Secretary of State and the governing body, which must be—

(a) the first day of a month later than that in which the application was made, or

(b) if the establishment was constituted by an amalgamation, either the first day of such a month or the date of the amalgamation. ” .

(5) In paragraph (7)(a) omit “or provisionally registered” and for “section 465 of the 1996 Act” substitute “section 161 of the 2002 Act”.

(6) For paragraph (7)(b)(ii) substitute the following—

“ (ii) it uses a person to carry out work to which section 142 of the 2002 Act applies in contravention of a direction given under section 142(1) of that Act. ” .

(7) In paragraph 7(c)(iii) for “employment.” substitute “employment, or”.

(8) After paragraph 7(c) insert the following—

“ (d) in the case of an establishment accepted under paragraph 3(c), if it ceases to be a member of COBISEC. ” .

6. Regulation B3A shall have the heading “Function Providers”.

7. —(1) Regulation B4 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)(b) after “maternity” in each case insert “, paternity or adoption”.

8. —(1) Regulation C1 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1) for “a person to whom the 1991 Act applies” substitute “a person who is a school teacher for the purposes of section 122 of the 2002 Act”.

(3) In paragraph (1)(a) for “section 2 of the 1991 Act” substitute “section 122 of the 2002 Act”.

(4) In paragraph (1)(b) after “maternity,” insert “paternity or adoption,”.

(5) In paragraph (1)(c) after “maternity,” insert “paternity or adoption,”.

(6) In sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph (5) omit “, other than a payment made in consequence of a School Achievement Award,”.

(7) In paragraph (7) for “section 2 of the 1991 Act” substitute “section 122 of the 2002 Act”.

9. —(1) Regulation C2 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)(a) after “maternity” insert “, paternity or adoption”.

(3) In paragraph (9) after “maternity,” insert “, paternity or adoption”.

10. —(1) Regulation C9 shall be amended as follows.

(2) At the beginning of paragraph (7)(a) insert “subject to paragraph (7A),”.

(3) After paragraph (7) insert the following—

“ (7A) Where the period begins on or after 31st March 2004, the notional salary shall be increased on 1st April following the beginning of the period and on each 1st April subsequently by

11. —(1) Regulation C10 shall be amended as follows.

(2) At the beginning of paragraph (4) insert “Subject to paragraph (4A),”.

(3) After paragraph (4) insert the following—

“ (4A) Where the period begins on or after 31st March 2004, the notional salary shall be increased on 1st April following the beginning of the period and on each 1st April subsequently by

12. —(1) Regulation D1 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)(b) for “or F4(8) (acceptance of transfer value),” substitute “, F4(8) (acceptance of transfer value) or F4A(3) (acceptance of transfer values as part of a bulk transfer),”.

(3) In paragraph (3)(b) after “maternity” insert “, paternity or adoption”.

13. —(1) Regulation E4 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1) omit “Subject to regulation E33(2) (application for payment),”.

(3) In paragraph (4) for “regulation 5(1)(b)” to the end of that paragraph substitute “section 142 of the 2002 Act on the grounds mentioned in subsections (4)(a), (b) and (c) of that section to direct that he may not carry out work to which that section applies.”.

(4) In paragraph (8)(b) for “of direction under regulation 5(1)(b) or (c), or regulation 9(1)(a) of the Education (Restriction of Employment) Regulations 2000” substitute “under section 142 of the 2002 Act on the grounds mentioned in subsections (4)(a), (b) and (c) of that section to direct that he may not carry out work to which that section applies”.

14. —(1) Regulation E19 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1) for “E4(3)” substitute “E4(2), (3)”.

15. After regulation E19 insert the following—

“ Commutation: trivial pensions

E19A. —(1) Where a person has become entitled to a retirement pension of a trivial amount, the Secretary of State may pay to that person a lump sum representing the capital value of that pension and of any benefits that might otherwise have become payable on that person’s death.

(2) A pension may not be treated as trivial if it includes a guaranteed minimum unless the person has reached state pensionable age or any pension in respect of the guaranteed minimum is otherwise payable.

(3) A pension may be treated as trivial only if the aggregate of all benefits does not exceed £260 per annum.

(4) Any lump sum payable under this regulation will be calculated by the Secretary of State, after taking advice from the Government Actuary.

(5) A deduction is to be made from any payment under this regulation for the amount of tax chargeable in respect of it under section 599 of the Taxes Act.

(6) A payment under this regulation shall discharge the Secretary of State’s liability in respect of that pension and of any benefits that might otherwise have become payable on that person’s death. ” .

16. —(1) Regulation E20 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1) for “paragraph (6)” substitute “paragraphs (1A) and (6)”.

(3) In paragraph (1)(d) after “maternity,” insert “, paternity or adoption”.

(4) After paragraph (1) insert the following—

“ (1A) No death grant may be paid under paragraph (1)(c) in respect of a person to whom retirement benefits or a short-service incapacity grant calculated (in either case) by reference to the total of his reckonable service have been paid. ” .

17. —(1) Regulation E25 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)(a) after “maternity” insert “, paternity or adoption”.

18. —(1) Regulation E26 shall be amended as follows.

(2) At the beginning of paragraph (1)(b) insert “subject to paragraph (1A),”.

(3) After paragraph (1) insert the following—

“ (1A) Where a person has made an election under regulation B7, paragraph (1)(b) has effect with the substitution for “2 years” of “1 year”. ” .

19. —(1) Regulation E28 shall be amended as follows.

(2) After paragraph (6)(b) insert the following—

“ (c) any period beginning after that date for which additional contributions have been paid under regulation C9 or C10, ” .

(3) In paragraph (9) for “paragraphs (3) to (7)” substitute in each case “paragraphs (3) to (5) and (7)”.

20. —(1) Regulation E31 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (7)(a) after “maternity” insert “, paternity or adoption”.

(3) In paragraph (13)(b) for “to whom on the material date the 1991 Act applied” substitute “who was on the material date a school teacher for the purposes of section 122 of the 2002 Act”.

(4) In paragraph (13)(d)(i) for “to whom on the material date the 1991 Act applied,” substitute “who was on the material date a school teacher for the purposes of section 122 of the 2002 Act,” and for “section 2 of the 1991 Act” substitute “section 122 of the 2002 Act”.

(5) In paragraph (13)(d)(ii) for “to whom on the material date the 1991 Act does not apply” substitute “who was not on the material date a school teacher for the purposes of section 122 of the 2002 Act”.

21. —(1) Regulation E33 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (4) after “paragraphs” insert “(4A) and”.

(3) After paragraph (4) insert the following—

“ (4A) (a) Where a written application is made to the Secretary of State, a benefit that does not consist of a single payment may be paid quarterly.

(b) The first payment under this paragraph is to be made two months after the day on which it would have been made if no such application had been made, and subsequent payments, if any, are to be made at quarterly intervals thereafter.

(c) In relation to payments made under this paragraph,

(i) paragraph (6) shall have effect as if for “paragraph (4)” there were substituted “paragraph (4A)”, and references to the “due date” in this regulation shall be construed accordingly, and

(ii) paragraph (9) shall have effect as if for “(A/12)” and “month” there were substituted “(A/4)” and “quarter” respectively. ” .

22. —(1) Regulation E34 shall be amended as follows.

(2) For paragraph (4)(b) substitute the following—

“ (b) the date referred to

(i) in regulation E33(4) in relation to each payment in the case of any other monthly payment, or

(ii) in regulation E33(4A) in relation to each payment in the case of any other quarterly payment. ” .

23. —(1) Regulation F2 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (2)(a) after “(acceptance of transfer value)” insert “or F4A(3) (acceptance of transfer values as part of a bulk transfer”.

(3) In paragraph (3) after “regulation F4” insert “or F4A”.

24. —(1) Regulation F4 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1) after “Subject to paragraphs (2) to (6)” insert “and to regulation F4A”.

25. After regulation F4 insert the following—

“ Acceptance of transfer values as part of a bulk transfer

F4A. —(1) This regulation applies where, as the result of a transfer of undertakings to a new employer, a person or a group of persons has become employed in pensionable employment and is given the opportunity to transfer past service pension rights, referred to below as a “bulk transfer”.

(2) Subject to regulation F4(5) and (6), a transfer value may be accepted by the Secretary of State in respect of a person who has made a written application within 3 months of the date on which that person was notified of the opportunity to take part in the bulk transfer.

(3) A person in respect of whom a transfer of such rights has been accepted as part of a bulk transfer is entitled to count reckonable service in accordance with the agreed terms of the bulk transfer, the Secretary of State having taken advice from the Government Actuary. ” .

26. —(1) Regulation G1 shall be amended as follows.

(2) For Regulation G1 substitute the following—

“ (1) An account in a form approved by the Treasury is to be prepared by the Secretary of State for every financial year starting with the financial year ending 31st March 1998.

(2) The account shall be open to examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General. ” .

27. —(1) Regulation G2 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (4)(b) for “regulation F4” substitute “regulations F4 and F4A”.

28. —(1) Regulation H3 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)(c) after “have” insert “been”.

(3) In paragraph (1)(g) after “maternity” insert “, paternity or adoption”.

29. —(1) Schedule 1 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In the definition of “Act” omit “the 1991 Act,”.

(3) Omit “The 1991 Act” and its definition.

(4) After the definition of “The 1999 Act” insert the following—

(5) After the definition of “Admitted service” insert the following—

(6) After the definition of “Appropriate rights” after “1999” insert insert “Act”.

(7) After the definition of “Club scheme” insert the following—

“ (8) After the definition of “Member” insert the following—

(9) After the definition of “Part-time” insert the following—

(10) Omit “School Achievement Award” and its definition.

30. —(1) Schedule 2 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 2 after “special school” insert “not”.

(3) In paragraph 5 omit “, organiser or supervisor”.

(4) In paragraph 24 omit “the Edexcel Foundation”.

(5) In paragraph 24 omit “the Education 2000 Trust”, “the London Open College Federation”, “the National Education Resources Information Service” and “the Yorkshire and Humberside Association for Further and Higher Education”.

(6) In paragraph 24 for “the Macmillan Institute of Education” substitute “the Macmillan National Institute of Education”.

(7) For paragraph 26 substitute the following—

“ Teacher or organiser employed by a body formerly within paragraph 19, 20 or 23 which is a non-profit-making body whose principal source of funding is fees paid by a local education authority. ” .

31. —(1) Schedule 10 shall be amended as follows.

(2) At the beginning of paragraph 35 insert “Subject to paragraph 35A,”.

(3) After paragraph 35 insert the following—

“ 35A. Where a transfer value has been accepted in respect of a person to whom this Part applies as part of a bulk transfer under regulation F4A, he is entitled to count reckonable service in accordance with that regulation. ” .

(4) In paragraph 37(a) omit the final “and”.

(5) At the end of paragraph 37(b) insert “and”.

(6) After paragraph 37(b) insert the following—

“ (c) has not had a break in pensionable employment under these Regulations or the 1995 Regulations for any one period of 5 years or more ending after 6th March 1995, ” .

(7) At the end of paragraph 37 after “the age of 55” insert “and as if regulations E4(2)(a) and E4(3)(a) had effect with the insertion after “the age of 60” of “and was in pensionable employment on attaining that age”.

32. Schedule 13 shall be deleted.

Election in respect of protected benefit

33. —(1) This regulation applies to a person—

(a) to whom a protected benefit is being paid or may become payable, and

(b) who is placed in a worse position than he would have been in if a provision made by these Regulations (“the relevant provision”) had not applied in relation to the protected benefit.

(2) A protected benefit is one which is being paid or may become payable under the Teachers' Pensions Regulations 1997 to, or in respect of, a person who was employed in qualifying employment but ceased to be employed, or died, before 31st March 2004.

(3) A person to whom this regulation applies may, by giving written notice to the Secretary of State before 31st July 2004, elect that the relevant provision shall not apply in relation to the protected benefit.

(4) If the election under paragraph (3) is made in relation to a benefit of a person who is in pensionable employment or who subsequently becomes re-employed in pensionable employment—

(a) the election shall have effect in relation to the benefit only to the extent that it accrues or has accrued by virtue—

(i) of periods of reckonable service before the cessation referred to in paragraph (2) (or, if there had been more than one cessation, the last of them before 31st March 2004), or

(ii) of contributions paid in respect of such periods of reckonable service, and

(b) in determining entitlement to, or the amount of, the benefit to that extent he shall be treated as if he had never re-entered pensionable employment again at any time after the cessation referred to in paragraph (2) (but without prejudice to the application of this paragraph),

and the Teachers' Pensions Regulations 1997 shall apply accordingly.

(5) In paragraph (2) “qualifying employment” means pensionable employment or excluded employment within the meaning of the Teachers' Pensions Regulations 1997.