18Recognition of service prior to commencement day

18 Recognition of service prior to commencement day

(1)  If a person –

(a) became, before the commencement day, a contributor to the contributory scheme within the meaning of any of the former regulations; and

(b) continues to be a contributor on or after that date –

any period of service to which that person was entitled to be credited under the former regulations is taken to be service for the purposes of this Part.

(2)  For the purposes of subregulation (1) , any period of service is to be expressed in years and, in the case of a contributor who was employed on a full-time basis before 1 July 1994 and continued to be so employed throughout the period of service, is to be calculated as a period or periods comprising service equivalent to –

(a) the 40 years' service scheme at the higher rate of contribution; or

(b) the 40 years' service scheme at the lower rate of contribution; or

(c) the 35 years' service scheme; or

(d) the 30 years' service scheme –

or, if he or she had at any time been employed otherwise than on a full-time basis, his or her length of service is to be calculated as a period or periods of full-time service equivalent to –

(e) the 40 years' service scheme at the higher rate of contribution; or

(f) the 40 years' service scheme at the lower rate of contribution; or

(g) the 35 years' service scheme; or

(h) the 30 years' service scheme.