The Register of Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Amendment) Regulations 2007

Statutory Instruments

2007 No. 1625

Pensions

The Register of Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Amendment) Regulations 2007

Made

7th June 2007

Laid before Parliament

13th June 2007

Coming into force

4th July 2007

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 61(1), (2)(b) and (3), 315(2) and (4) and 318(1) of the Pensions Act 2004(1).

In accordance with section 317(1) of the Pensions Act 2004 he has consulted with such persons as he considers appropriate before making these Regulations.

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Register of Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Amendment) Regulations 2007 and shall come into force on 4th July 2007.

(2) In these Regulations—

“the principal Regulations” mean the Register of Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes Regulations 2005(2).

Amendment of the principal Regulations

2.  After regulation 5 of the principal Regulations (provision of information), insert—

“The Office for National Statistics - provision of information

5A.— (1) The Office for National Statistics(3)—

(a) shall be provided with such—

(i) information recorded in the register,

(ii) extracts from the register, or

(iii) copies of the register or of extracts from it,

as are in its opinion necessary for the purposes of producing pension statistics; and

(b) may inspect—

(i) the register,

(ii) extracts from the register, or

(iii) copies of the register or of extracts from it,

when in its opinion, such inspection is necessary for the purposes of producing pension statistics.

(2) When information is disclosed in accordance with paragraph (1), section 82(2) of the Act (restricted information – prohibition on disclosure) shall apply as if the words “and regulations made under section 61” were inserted after “and 235” in paragraph (b).”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

James Purnell

Minister of State,

Department for Work and Pensions

7th June 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Register of Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/597) to provide that information contained in the register of occupational pension schemes and personal pension schemes, compiled and maintained by the Pensions Regulator under section 59 of the Pensions Act 2004 (register of occupational and personal pension schemes) (“the Act”) shall be provided to, or made available for inspection by the Office for National Statistics for the purposes of producing pension statistics.

It also prescribes that section 82 of the Act (restricted information) is modified so that it does not apply to such a disclosure of information.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business, charities or voluntary bodies.

(1)

2004 c.35. Section 318(1) is cited for the meaning there given to “prescribed” and “regulations”.

(2)

S.I. 2005/597 as amended by S.I. 2006/467 and 1733.

(3)

The Office for National Statistics can be contacted at Customer Contact Centre Room 1.015 Office for National Statistics Cardiff Road Newport NP10 8XG.