Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Bill - As Introduced

CONTENTS
1. Automatic enrolment: persons and earnings affected
2. Commencement and short title

A

BILL

TO

Make provision about the extension of pensions automatic enrolment to jobholders under the age of 22; to make provision about the lower qualifying earnings threshold for automatic enrolment; and for connected purposes.
BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by His Majesty as follows:

Automatic enrolment: persons and earnings affected

1.—(1) The Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 is amended as follows.
(2) In section 3 (automatic enrolment), after subsection (1) insert⁠—
"(1A) The Department may by regulations amend subsection (1)(a) so as to decrease the age for the time being specified in that paragraph.".
(3) In section 5 (automatic re-enrolment), after subsection (1B) insert⁠—
"(1C) The Department may by regulations amend subsections (1)(a) and (1A)(a) so as to decrease either or both of the ages for the time being specified in those paragraphs.".
(4) After section 13 (qualifying earnings) insert⁠—
"Qualifying earnings: reduction or removal of lower limit
13A.—(1) The Department may by regulations⁠—
(a) amend section 13(1)(a) so as to reduce the amount for the time being specified in that paragraph, or
(b) repeal⁠—
(i) section 9 (workers without qualifying earnings), and
(ii) section 13(1)(a).
(2) Regulations under this section may include such amendments, repeals or revocations of any provision of this Act or any other statutory provision as appear to the Department to be expedient in consequence of the repeal of sections 9 and 13(1)(a).".
(5) In section 112(4) (orders or regulations subject to the confirmatory procedure), in paragraph (a), after "section" insert "3(1A), 5(1C), 13A,".

Commencement and short title

2.—(1) Section 1 comes into operation on such day or days as the Department for Communities may by order appoint.
(2) This section comes into operation on the day after this Act receives Royal Assent.
(3) This Act may be cited as the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2024.