This section gives the power to make any necessary transitional arrangements for the provisions in the Act.
Subsections (1) and (2) relate to the pensions measures in Parts I and II; subsection (6) relates to Part V (welfare). These are standard formulations, used elsewhere in social security legislation;
Subsections (3) to (5) provide specific transitional provisions for the pension sharing measures in Parts III and IV. They are intended to ensure that pension sharing orders cannot be introduced with retrospective effect, but can only be made in proceedings begun on or after the day on which pension sharing provisions in this Act are brought into force.
In England and Wales they prevent a pension sharing order being made where proceedings for divorce or nullity started before the day (commencement day) on which section 19 is brought into force.
In Scotland no pension sharing order or agreement under the Family Law (Scotland Act) 1985 may be made in any divorce (or action for declarator of nullity) brought before the day on which section 20 of the Act comes into force or under section 31(7B) of that Act if the marriage was dissolved by a decree granted in proceedings so begun.
Commentary Commentary Part VI: General Section 85: Transitional provisions