PART 3Requirements relating to trustees or managers of relevant occupational pension schemes

CHAPTER 1Requirements relating to cooperation and connection

F1... Voluntary connectionI116

1

Where trustees or managers—

F3a

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

b

wish to connect a pension scheme to the Money and Pensions Service on a voluntary basis in circumstances where the scheme has fewer than 100 relevant members,

they must apply to the Money and Pensions Service for permission for the pension scheme to connect to the Money and Pensions Service F2... on a voluntary basis.

2

When applying for permission to connect under paragraph (1), trustees or managers must have regard to guidance on F4... voluntary connection issued from time to time by the Money and Pensions Service.

3

Subject to consultation with the Regulator, except where the Money and Pensions Service and the Regulator agree that such consultation is not needed, the Money and Pensions Service may grant permission for F5... voluntary connection by such a date as the Money and Pensions Service considers appropriate (referred to in this regulation as the “agreed deadline”).

4

Where permission is granted for F6... voluntary connection under paragraph (3)—

a

the agreed deadline remains fixed, F7... unless—

i

permission to defer connection is given under regulation 17, or

ii

all the members of the scheme become pensioner members F8.

F9b

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

Once permission to connect F10... on a voluntary basis has been granted under paragraph (4), trustees or managers must—

a

register the scheme with the Money and Pensions Service, having regard to the guidance referred to in regulation 15(2)(d);

b

connect the pension scheme to the Money and Pensions Service F11by no later than the agreed deadline, in compliance with the standards referred to in regulation 15(2)(c) and having regard to the guidance referred to in regulation 15(2)(d);

c

meet the requirements in regulation 15(4) and (5).