Pensions Act 2004

201 Other permitted disclosures E+W+S

(1) Section 197 does not preclude the disclosure by the Board of restricted information to—

(a) the Secretary of State,

(b) the Commissioners of Inland Revenue or their officers, or

(c) the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland,

if the disclosure appears to the Board to be desirable or expedient in the interests of members of occupational pension schemes or in the public interest.

(2) Section 197 does not preclude the disclosure of restricted information—

(a) by or on behalf of—

(i) the Board, or

(ii) any public authority (within the meaning of section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42)) which receives the information directly or indirectly from the Board,

for any of the purposes specified in section 17(2)(a) to (d) of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (c. 24) (criminal proceedings and investigations),

(b) in connection with any proceedings arising out of—

(i) this Act,

(ii) the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30),

(iii) the Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), or

(iv) the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48),

or any corresponding enactment in force in Northern Ireland, or any proceedings for breach of trust in relation to an occupational pension scheme,

(c) with a view to the institution of, or otherwise for the purposes of, proceedings under—

(i) section 7 or 8 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (c. 46), or

(ii) Article 10 or 11 F1 ... of the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/3150 (N.I. 4)),

(d) in connection with any proceedings under—

(i) the Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45), or

(ii) the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/2405 (N.I. 19)),

which the Board has instituted or in which it has a right to be heard,

(e) with a view to the institution of, or otherwise for the purposes of, any disciplinary proceedings relating to the exercise of his professional duties by a solicitor, an actuary, an accountant or an insolvency practitioner,

(f) with a view to the institution of, or otherwise for the purpose of, any disciplinary proceedings relating to the exercise by a public servant of his functions, or

(g) in pursuance of [F2 assimilated] law.

(3) In subsection (2)(f), “public servant” means an officer or servant of the Crown or of any prescribed authority.

(4) Section 197 does not preclude the disclosure by the Board of restricted information to—

(a) the Director of Public Prosecutions,

(b) the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland,

(c) the Lord Advocate,

(d) a procurator fiscal, or

(e) a constable.

(5) Section 197 does not preclude the disclosure of restricted information in any case where the disclosure is required by or by virtue of an enactment.

(6) Section 197 does not preclude the disclosure of restricted information in any case where the disclosure is to a Regulator-appointed trustee of an occupational pension scheme for the purpose of enabling or assisting him to exercise his functions in relation to the scheme.

(7) In subsection (6), “Regulator-appointed trustee” means a trustee appointed by the Regulator under section 7 or 23(1) of the Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26) or any corresponding provision in force in Northern Ireland.

(8) Section 197 does not preclude the disclosure by any person mentioned in subsection (1) or (4) of restricted information obtained by the person by virtue of that subsection, if the disclosure is made with the consent of the Board.

(9) Section 197 does not preclude the disclosure by any person specified in the first column of Schedule 8 of restricted information obtained by the person by virtue of section 200(1), if the disclosure is made—

(a) with the consent of the Board, and

(b) for the purpose of enabling or assisting the person to exercise any functions specified in relation to him in the second column of the Schedule.

(10) Before deciding whether to give its consent to such a disclosure as is mentioned in subsection (8) or (9), the Board must take account of any representations made to it, by the person seeking to make the disclosure, as to the desirability of the disclosure or the necessity for it.

(11) Section 18 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (c. 24) (restriction on disclosure of information for overseas purposes) has effect in relation to a disclosure authorised by subsection (2) as it has effect in relation to a disclosure authorised by any of the provisions to which section 17 of that Act applies.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 201(2)(c)(ii) omitted (1.10.2009) by virtue of The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1941), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 243(8) (with art. 10)

F2 Word in s. 201(2)(g) substituted (1.1.2024) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1424), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 56(2)(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 2 modified (8.3.2005 for specified purposes, 6.4.2005 in so far as not already in force) by The Pension Protection Fund (Partially Guaranteed Schemes) (Modification) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/277), regs. 1(1), 2-11

C2 Pt. 2 modified in part (9.3.2005 for specified purposes, 1.4.2005 for specified purposes, 6.4.2005 in so far as not already in force (except ch. 4)) by The Pension Protection Fund (Multi-employer Schemes) (Modification) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/441), regs. 1, 2-60, 71, 72

C3 Pt. 2 applied in part (with modifications) (20.7.2005 for specified purposes, 1.9.2005 for specified purposes, 5.12.2005 for specified purposes) by The Financial Assistance Scheme Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1986), regs. 1(1), 4, Sch. 1

C4 Ss. 197-201 extended (1.9.2005) by The Pensions Act 2004 (Commencement No. 6, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1720), art. 4(9)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 201 in force at 6.4.2005 by S.I. 2005/275, art. 2(7), Sch. Pt. 7