Pensions Law

According to the Pensions Dashboards Programme (PDP), the MoneyHelper pensions dashboard is anticipated to become accessible to the public during the 2027/28 financial year. Around the 31 October 2026 connection deadline, the PDP plans to share an update on launch arrangements, by which point substantially more user testing should then have been completed......

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) On 21 May 2026, MHCLG issued its response to the technical consultation on the draft Local Government Pension Scheme (Pooling, Manag…). On the same day, the two final statutory instruments were published, laid before Parliament, and are due to take effect on 30 June 2026 - the Local Government Pension Scheme (Pooling, Management and Investment of Funds) Regulations 2026, SI …, and the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (Governance) Regulations 2026, SI 2026/545 (together, the regulations). Notwithstanding commencement, LGPS administering authorities and asset pool companies are expected to meet the minimum asset pooling standards from 1 April 2026, with a minimum expectation that new shareholder agreements are signed by that date. In the meantime, the government said it would continue working with the sector to ensure compliance across all funds and intends to publish...

In this issue: Pension Schemes Bill Investments New content Daily and weekly news alerts Dates for your diary Trackers Pension Schemes Bill House of Commons rejects most of the Lords’ amendments to the Pension Schemes Bill On 10 April 2026, the government laid an amendment paper on the Pension Schemes Bill, outlining House of Commons motions to resist changes proposed by the House of Lords and to restore a narrower mandation power. That power would cap mandation at 10% of total assets in default funds and 5% in UK-linked holdings, in line with the thresholds set by the Mansion House Accord (a voluntary commitment by 17 of the UK’s largest DC pension providers to allocate more to unlisted investments globally and within the UK). The House of Commons went on to consider the Lords’ amendments on 15 April 2026. During that...

This Practice Note monitors the development of UK legislation brought forward under the legislative programme linked to the UK’s departure from the EU. It also features a Brexit SI database that compiles details of both draft and made secondary legislation related to Brexit. Quick links Use the links below to go directly to the relevant section or tracker. Practice area trackers Follow the links below for trackers focused on Brexit legislation across specific practice areas: Commercial Corporate Crime Dispute Resolution Employment Energy Environment Financial Services Information Law Intellectual Property Life Sciences Local Government Pensions Property R&I Tax For further updates and guidance tailored to individual practice areas, see: Brexit collection......

Under English law, binding agreements may arise orally, in writing, or by deed. This Practice Notice explores when a deed is required or preferable, and the formalities that must be observed to ensure validity. What is a deed? When a deed is required Formalities (1): in writing Formalities (2): face value Formalities (3): execution Formalities (4): delivery Escrow Witnessing Variation Failure to comply with formalities and other defects Reform For details on executing deeds in jurisdictions outside England and Wales, see Practice Note: Execution of deeds—jurisdictional guide. We have created a comprehensive, interactive collection to help users identify and navigate concepts and common issues in executing documents, including deeds. Each phase includes practical guidance, precedent clauses and Q&As relevant to that stage. For further information, see: Execution...

Introduced in 2023, the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Consumer Duty (the Duty) signalled a major change in the FCA’s regulation of the retail sector, setting higher expectations for the level of care firms owe to consumers. The Duty forms part of the FCA’s shift to an outcomes‑based regime, prompted by worries that many firms took a reactive, ‘tick‑box’ approach to compliance. The FCA was dissatisfied with the consumer outcomes achieved under existing Handbook provisions, including the Principles for Businesses Sourcebook (PRIN), the Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (PROD), and the pre‑existing client best interest rules within the Conduct of Business Sourcebook (COBS) and the Insurance: Conduct of Business Sourcebook (ICOBS). Consequently, the FCA expects firms to raise their standards to meet the Duty’s requirements... Key points on the Consumer Duty are as follows: It took effect on 31 July 2023 for new and...

STOP PRESS: The Financial Remedies Guide 2026 Published on 13 March 2026 by Mr Justice Peel (National Lead Judge of the Financial Remedies Court) and His Honour Judge Hess (Deputy National Lead Judge of the Financial Remedies Court), and approved by the President of the Family Division, the Guide supersedes and replaces: the Statement on the efficient conduct of financial remedy cases assigned to a High Court judge, whether at the Royal Courts of Justice or elsewhere (1 February 2016) (the High Court judge level efficiency statement) the Statement on the efficient conduct of financial remedy hearings in the Financial Remedies Court below High Court judge level (11 January 2022) (the below High Court judge level efficiency statement) the Financial Remedies Court Primary Principles (11 January 2022) the Notice from the Financial Remedies Court concerning electronic bundles (19 April 2022) the Allocation of financial remedies cases to High Court judge level (21 May...

Name: ________________________________ Date of Birth: ________________________________ Membership Number: __________________ National Insurance Number: ____________________ Company Name: ________________________ Address: ____________________________________ Date Joined Scheme: ___________________ Date of Leaving: ____________________________ To the Trustees of the [ insert name of scheme ] Pension Scheme (the ‘Scheme’). I have benefits within the Scheme and apply to move the value of those benefits from the Scheme as outlined below. This also covers any amounts that would be paid from the Scheme to my dependants or beneficiaries if I were to die. I confirm I have received a statement of entitlement for my Scheme benefits showing the cash equivalent transfer value (CETV) as at my guarantee date. I wish to transfer my benefits to the Receiving Arrangement(s) listed here: Name of Receiving Arrangement:...

Effective from [ insert date ], this statement of investment principles applies. 1 Statement of investment principles 1.1 Purpose of statement This document outlines the principles that steer decisions on investing the assets of the [ insert name ] Pension Scheme (the Scheme). It is published by the Trustees of the [ insert name ] Pension Scheme (the Trustees) to meet the requirements of the Pensions Act 1995, s 35. 1.2 Review The statement will be assessed each year. The Trustees may conduct an ad hoc review at any time if they consider there has been a material change in investment policy, or any other circumstances affecting the Scheme. 1.3 Advice The Trustees have received and evaluated written advice on the contents of this statement in a letter from [ insert name of investment consultant or actuary ]. [ insert name ] have confirmed to the Trustees that, through their...

We proceed on the basis that the pension scheme in question is a defined benefit scheme and that the former MND is a member. Whether the former MND should first contest the outcome of the MND election through the pension scheme’s internal dispute resolution procedure, or complain straight to the Pensions Regulator, depends on the nature and seriousness of the breach......

Practice Note: TUPE—what pension benefits should the transferee provide? The Pensions Regulator, in its auto-enrolment guidance 2, indicates that when a TUPE transfer occurs, employees who move across are regarded as new joiners of the incoming employer (the transferee)......

An employer operating the pension scheme must use the identical procedure to set up active membership for automatic re-enrolment as it would for automatic enrolment. The employer is required to implement the statutory steps for automatic enrolment so that eligible jobholders are admitted as active members with effect from their automatic re-enrolment date. Where the actions needed to secure active membership occur after the automatic re-enrolment date, that active membership has to be retrospectively applied to that date, and contributions become due and must be paid from that date......