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(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Contracting-out and Qualifying Earnings Factor and Revision of Relevant Pensions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and shall come into operation on 29th December 2000.
(2) For the purpose of these Regulations—
 “the 1992 Act” means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992;
 “the 1993 Act” means the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993;
 “the 2000 Act” means the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000;
 “relevant pension” has the meaning given to it in section 34(6) of the 2000 Act.
(3) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.
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(1) Where, by virtue of section 44A(1) of the 1993 Act, section 44(6) of the 1992 Act has effect for the tax year 2000-01 or any later tax year, in relation to some but not all of the earnings of an earner, the application of section 44(5A) of the 1992 Act is modified for that year in accordance with this regulation.
(2) In a case where the year is one in which the amount of a Class 1 contribution in respect of the earnings paid to or for the benefit of an earner in a tax week is reduced under section 37 or 38A of the 1993 Act (reduced rates of Class 1 contributions for earners in contracted-out employment and reduced rates of Class 1 contributions, and rebates, for members of money purchase contracted-out schemes) subsection (5A) of section 44 of the 1992 Act is modified so that the qualifying earnings factor for the purposes of paragraph (a) of that sub-section shall be calculated by applying the formula—L×(52-N)where—
 L is the weekly lower earnings limit for that year, and
 N is the number of tax weeks in that year in which a Class 1 contribution for the earner is reduced in accordance with section 37 or 38A of the 1993 Act.
(3) In a case where the year is one in which an amount is paid in respect of an earner under section 41(1) of the 1993 Act (minimum contributions towards appropriate personal pension schemes) subsection (5A) of section 44 of the 1992 Act is modified so that the qualifying earnings factor for the purposes of paragraph (a) of that subsection shall be zero.
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(1) Where, by virtue of section 34(3) of the 2000 Act any relevant pension has been calculated by reference to section 44(5) of the 1992 Act as modified by regulations under section 44A(5) of the 1993 Act, the calculation of that pension shall be revised by applying the formula set out in regulation 2(2).
(2) Any relevant pension revised in accordance with this regulation shall be paid at the revised amount.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 22nd November 2000.
John O'Neill
Senior Officer of the
Department for Social Development
