Regulation 2 Interpretation

In these Regulations—

• “the 2005 Order” means the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005;

• “accounting reference date” is determined in accordance with paragraph (2);

• “annual accounts” has the meaning given in section 471^f1 of the Companies Act;

• “assessment period” means—

  1. (a)

     subject to paragraph (b), the period of 12 months ending on the relevant accounting reference date;

  2. (b)

     where the employer’s annual accounts cover a period ending not more than 7 days either before or after the relevant accounting reference date, a period of no less than 51 weeks and no more than 53 weeks beginning on the day immediately after the previous accounting reference date;

• “charity” has the meaning given in section 1(1) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008^f2;

• “the Companies Act” means the Companies Act 2006^f3;

• “relevant accounting reference date” means the employer’s most recent accounting reference date immediately prior to the relevant time^f4.

Subject to regulation 4(7), the accounting reference date is to be determined in accordance with sections 391 (accounting reference periods and accounting reference date) and 392^f5 (alteration of accounting reference date) of the Companies Act.