PENSIONS Citation and Commencement 1 This Order may be cited as the Pensions Increase (Review) Order 1979 and shall come into operation on 12th November 1979. Interpretation 2 1 In this Order— “ the 1971 Act ” means the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971; “ the 1974 Act ” means the Pensions (Increase) Act 1974; “ the 1975 Act ” means the Social Security Pensions Act 1975; “ basic rate ” has the meaning given by section 17(1) of the 1971 Act as amended by section 1(3) of the 1974 Act; “ the existing Orders ” means the Pensions Increase (Annual Review) Order 1972, the Pensions Increase (Annual Review) Order 1973, the Pensions Increase (Annual Review) Order 1974, the Pensions Increase (Annual Review) Order 1975, the Pensions Increase (Annual Review) Order 1976, the Pensions Increase (Annual Review) Order 1977 and the Pensions Increase (Annual Review) Order 1978; “ official pension ” has the meaning given by section 5(1) of the 1971 Act; “ pension authority ” has the meaning given by section 7(1) of the 1971 Act; “ qualifying condition ” means one of the conditions laid down in section 3 of the 1971 Act as amended by section 3(2) and (3) of the 1974 Act; “ widow's pension ” means a pension payable in respect of the services of the pensioner's deceased husband. 2 For the purposes of this Order the time when a pension “ begins ” is that stated in section 8(2) of the 1971 Act, and the “ beginning date ” shall be construed accordingly. 3 Where, for the purposes of this Order, it is necessary to calculate the number of complete months in any period an incomplete month shall be treated as a complete month if it consists of at least 16 days. Pension increases 3 The annual rate of an official pension may, if a qualifying condition is satisfied or the pension is a widow's pension, be increased by the pension authority in respect of any period beginning on or after 12th November 1979 as follows:— 1 a pension beginning on or before 1st July 1978 may be increased by 16 per cent of the basic rate as increased by the amount of any increase under section 1 of the 1971 Act or the existing Orders; 2 a pension beginning on or after 2nd July 1978 may be increased by 17.5 per cent. multiplied by A B where a A is the number of complete months in the period between the beginning date of the pension and 12th November 1979 and b B is 12. Increases in certain lump sums 4 In respect of any lump sum or instalment of a lump sum which became payable before 12th November 1979 but after 1st December 1978 there may be paid an increase of 17.5 per cent. multiplied by A B where a A is the number of complete months in the period between the beginning date for the lump sum or, if later, 1st December 1978 and the date on which it became payable; and b B is 12. Reductions in respect of guaranteed minimum pensions 5 The amount by reference to which any increase in the rate of an official pension provided for by this Order is to be calculated shall, in the case of a person who i is entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension on 12th November 1979, and ii whose entitlement to that guaranteed minimum pension arises from an employment from which (either directly or by virtue of the payment of a transfer credit under section 38 of the 1975 Act) entitlement to the official pension also arises, be reduced by an amount equal to the rate of the guaranteed minimum-pension unless the Minister for the Civil Service shall, in accordance with the provisions of section 59A of the 1975 Act, otherwise direct. Given under the official seal of the Minister for the Civil Service on 8th August 1979. Soames Lord President of the Council