NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE, SCOTLAND Citation and commencement 1 These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service Superannuation Scheme (Scotland) Amendment (No.2) Regulations 1997 and shall come into force on 1st September 1997. Amendment of the National Health Service Superannuation Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 1995 2 1 The National Health Service Superannuation Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 1995 shall be amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 7 below. Interpretation 3 In regulation A2(4)– a after the definition of “the 1980 Regulations” insert the following definition:– “the 1978 Act” The National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978( ; b within the definition of “employing authority”, after paragraph (c) insert the following:– d a registered medical practitioner whose name is included in a list kept pursuant to section 20 of the 1978 Act or a partnership of such practitioners in respect of the employment of practice staff to assist in the provision of general medical services in accordance with arrangements under section 19 of the 1978 Act ; ; c after the definition of “personal pension scheme” insert the following definition:– “practice staff” Persons, other than an assistant, associate or trainee practitioner, employed by a registered medical practitioner whose name is included in a list kept pursuant to section 20 of the 1978 Act or a partnership of such practitioners to assist in the provision of general medical services in accordance with arrangements made under section 19 of the 1978 Act; . Meaning of “pensionable service” 4 After regulation C2(2)(e) insert the following sub-paragraph:– f in the case of practice staff any employment or portion of their employment which relates to provision of services other than provision of general medical services in accordance with arrangements made under section 19 of the 1978 Act. . Pensionable service in respect of part-time employment 5 After regulation C4(4) insert the following paragraph:– 4A For the purposes of paragraph (4) “a single comparable whole-time employment” means the number of hours, half days or sessions which the Secretary of State determines would constitute comparable whole-time employment. . Early retirement pension (redundancy etc.) 6 After regulation E3(3) insert the following paragraph:– 4 This regulation shall not apply to practice staff. . Early retirement pension (employer’s consent) 7 After regulation E4(2) insert the following sub-paragraph:– 3 This regulation shall not apply to practice staff. . Amendment of Schedule 1 8 In paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 1– a at the end of the definition of “assistant practitioner” for the words “and for whose employment the consent of the Health Board is required” substitute the words “or who is participating in the Doctors' Retainer Scheme”; b after the definition of “principal practitioner” there shall be inserted the following definition:– “Doctors' Retainer Scheme” has the same meaning as given in section 39 of the Statement of Fees and Allowances Paid to General Medical Practitioners in Scotland prepared under regulation 31 of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1995( . Brian Wilson Minister of State, Scottish Office St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh 21st July 1997 We consent, Jim Dowd Jon Owen Jones Two of the Lord Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Treasury 25th July 1997