# THE FRIENDLY SOCIETIES (GENERAL CHARGE AND FEES) REGULATIONS 1999, Note: Explanatory note


(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations provide for a general charge to be paid by friendly societies towards the expenses of the Friendly Societies Commission. The charge is levied with respect to the Commission’s accounting year beginning 1st April 1999 and is expected to raise £1.26 million (an increase of 26 per cent from that raised for the accounting year beginning 1st April 1998). In accordance with Schedule 1, each friendly society is required to pay 0.435% of its “specified income” for the year to 31st December 1998, subject to a minimum of £300 and a maximum of £36,000. (Under the Friendly Societies (Fees and Charges) Regulations 1998 (“the 1998 Regulations”) the percentage was 0.35%, and the minimum and maximum £250 and £29,000 respectively.) Where a society has a registered branch, the “specified income” includes that of the branch, save to the extent that the specified income of the branch comprises income received from the central body or from another registered branch of the society.
These Regulations also, by regulations 5 and 6 and Schedules 2 and 3, require and prescribe fees to be paid for matters transacted under the Friendly Societies Act 1974 or the Friendly Societies Act 1992. These have been increased by an average of 6.6 per cent. The increases are confined to certain items in Schedule 2, and the following table shows the relevant amounts payable under the 1998 Regulations and under these Regulations.
Paragraph in Schedule 2 to the 1999 Regulations
Fee under the 1998 Regulations
Fee under the 1999 Regulations
£
£
1 For the incorporation of a friendly society and the registration of the friendly society’s rules–
(a) where it relates to a new friendly society,
800
900
(b) where it relates to an existing society
675
750
2 For the registration of a branch
180
200
3 For the grant of authorisation under section 32 of the 1992 Act in respect of each class of insurance business and each description of non-insurance business authorised
1,060
1,090
4 For the grant of authorisation under section 33 of the 1992 Act.
175
180
5 For the registration of an annual return or a set of annual accounts (except where the society or branch concerned has by written notice sent to the central office irrevocably elected to pay the fees specified in paragraph 6 of this Schedule)–
(a) in the case of an annual return or a set of annual accounts for a year of account ended on or before 31st December 1998
(i) where it relates to a society
115
125
(ii) where it relates to a branch
50
55
(b) in the case of an annual return or a set of annual accounts for any subsequent year of account– (i) where it relates to a society
125
140
(ii) where it relates to a branch
55
65
6 The fees specified in this paragraph shall be payable where the society or branch concerned has by notice made an election under paragraph 5 of this Schedule:
(a) for the acknowledgement of registration of an amendment of rules (including approval of name in the case of an amendment effecting a change of name of a society or branch)–
(i) if the amendment substitutes an entire set of rules for the existing set of rules (except as provided in paragraph 19 of this Schedule)–
(A) where made by a society
450
500
(B) where made by a branch
145
160
(ii) if the amendment does not substitute an entire set of rules for the existing set of rules
(A) where made by a society
225
250
(B) where made by a branch
60
65
(e) for the acknowledgement of registration of an alteration of the memorandum of an incorporated friendly society
250
275
7 For the registration of a special resolution–
(a) where the special resolution relates to an amalgamation or a transfer of engagements
350
385
(b) where the special resolution relates to a conversion
575
650
8 For the appointment of an inspector or calling of a special meeting by the Chief Registrar
225
250
9 For the calling of a special meeting by the Commission
535
550
10 For the appointment of an inspector by the Commission
215
220
11 For the registration of an instrument of dissolution or alteration therein–
(A) of a society
400
440
(B) of a branch
290
320
16 For a document required to be signed by a Registrar, or to bear the seal of the central office, not chargeable with any other fee, provided that such fee shall not be paid by a society or branch which has not by notice elected as in paragraph 6 of this Schedule
40
45
17 For the approval of a form of model rules relating to a society registered as a working men’s club submitted by a sponsoring association or body
800
880
18 For the approval of a form of model rules relating to a society registered as a working men’s club submitted by a sponsoring association or body where such form of model rules amends an already approved form of model rules and contains a maximum of six amendments
250
275
20 For the confirmation of an amalgamation or a transfer of engagements
2,120
2,180
21 For the confirmation of an amalgamation or transfer of engagements where a society which is not a society to which section 37(2) or (3) of the 1992 Act applies has made an application which is accepted by the Commission for a reduction in the fee otherwise payable
215
220
22 For the approval by the Commission of a statement relating to an amalgamation or a transfer of engagements required to be sent by a society to its members under paragraph 1 of Schedule 15 to the 1992 Act or of a statement relating to a conversion required to be sent by a society to its members under paragraph 3 of that Schedule
2,120
2,180
23 For the approval by the Commission of a statement required to be sent by a society to its members as described in paragraph 22 of this Schedule where a society which is not a society to which section 37(2) or (3) of the 1992 Act applies has made an application which is accepted by the Commission for a reduction in the fee otherwise payable
320
330
25 For the registration of a scheme under section 6(5) of the 1992 Act
110
120
26 For a request to cancel the registration of the society
40
50
27 For the confirmation of a conversion
2,120
2,180
28 For the consent of the Commission that an instrument of dissolution or alteration shall be of effect for the purpose of effecting or facilitating a transfer of engagements to any other friendly society or to a company
2,120
2,180
29 For the consent of the Commission for a society to form or acquire control of a body corporate jointly with a person other than another incorporated friendly society
2,120
2,180
30 For the consent of the Commission for a society to undertake to fulfil the engagements of another society by a special resolution of the committee of management
320
330
31 For the grant of a dispensation by the Commission of the requirements of section 47(1) to (6) of the 1992 Act
50
52
32 For a direction to a society by notice extending the period (by not more than 3 months) within which the society shall send three copies of the abstract of the actuary’s report which it is required to send to the Commission under section 46(3) of the 1992 Act
50
52
33 For a direction to a society by notice extending the period (by not more than 6 months) within which the society shall cause to be made and sent to the Commission the abstract of the actuary’s report which under s.47(2) of the 1992 Act should be made and sent to the Commission
50
52
34 For the extension by the Commission of the period within which, under regulation 57(1) of the Friendly Societies (Insurance Business) Regulations 1994, a society is required to deposit three copies of the statement or underwriting account prepared by the society under regulation 55(1), (3) or (5), or 56(1) or (2) of those Regulations
50
52
35 For the consent of the Commission for a society to value implicit items in accordance with the provisions of regulations 9 to 11, with respect to long term business, and regulation 11, with respect to general business, of the Friendly Societies (Insurance Business) Regulations 1994
205
210
The Regulations also revoke the Friendly Societies (Fees and Charges) Regulations 1998.
A regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this instrument would have on the cost of business is available from the Secretariat, Friendly Societies Commission, 25 North Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HS.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/736/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/friendly-societies-general-charge-and-fees-regulations-1999/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.