Explanatory note

This Order amends the terms of the British Railways Superannuation Fund (Amalgamated Sections) and the Great Western Railway Supplemental Pensions Reserve Fund so as to permit the employment of any member of either fund to be contracted-out of the earnings-related component of the State pension scheme provided for in the Social Security Pensions Act 1975. For this purpose it is necessary for the rules of a pension fund to accord priority to certain liabilities in the event of the winding up of the fund. The present Order provides for this priority.

Article 2 specifies the pension funds to which the Order applies, Article 3 gives specific rights to members of these pension funds in the event of winding up and Article 4 sets out the order in which the assets of the funds are to be applied in the event of winding up and, in particular, provides for the priority required, for contracting-out purposes, by the Social Security Pensions Act 1975.

Article 5 requires the British Railways Board to secure that no person entitled to benefit from either fund shall be placed in a worse position by reason of the provisions of the Order.

Article 6 contains an adaptation of the Order to cover the case of a fund member whose social security pension benefits are secured under the relevant Northern Ireland legislation.

This Order has effect from 6th April 1978 by virtue of section 74(7) of the Transport Act 1962.