Since 2015, the Insolvency Service has applied to the courts to wind-up 24 companies that have carried out a form of pension misuse.

XPS Pensions Group, the influential pension consulting and administration firm, has voiced its support for the government’s proposal to introduce Collective Defined Contribution pension schemes.

In November, the DWP detailed its plans for the new type of occupational pension scheme which will be subject to a 0.75% charge cap with the aim of keeping costs down. Royal Mail is already looking at introducing a CDC.
The government gave the green light last year for CDCs and plans to legislate for them in due course although critics have already warned it could take years for CDCs to arrive and they may risk fluctuating income for members in retirement because of their structure.
 
XPS says in its submission to the government on the proposal to introduce CDCs that they could provide “better outcomes” for employees than traditional DC schemes.



However, it said they may take choice away from members and present additional risks so it is “critical they are well designed and managed.”

XPS Pensions Group says there are three key areas the DWP and Pensions Regulator will need to consider to ensure the development of a successful CDC framework. These include:
 
1.      Sustainability and resilience of CDC schemes for the future
2.      How to ensure fairness of outcomes between generations
3.      Member understanding and expectation

Consultation on CDCs ended last week.
 
Jacqui Woodward, senior consultant at XPS Pensions Group said: “In our view it will be possible to develop an appropriate disclosure framework that adequately communicates CDC benefits to members. 

“However, we would caution against underestimating the risks of CDC schemes in the rush to get them established.  It is worth taking time to make sure that the new types of scheme can offer a genuine and safe alternative to members and we look forward to providing our input to further consultations on the detailed design of CDC arrangements.”

An accounts manager is to be prosecuted on suspicion of misleading The Pensions Regulator by trying to hide a failure to provide workplace pensions at a string of restaurants.

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has announced the appointment of Charles Counsell as its new chief executive. 

Dominic Chappell, the director and majority shareholder of the company that bought BHS for £1, has been ordered to pay more than £124,000 for failing to hand over information to The Pensions Regulator (TPR).

The launch, by the FCA and The Pensions Regulator yesterday, of a joint regulatory strategy aimed at taking action to deliver better outcomes for pension consumers has been backed by the profession.

Four trustees of a master trust, who failed to promptly invest members’ savings for three years, affecting 9,081 members and contributions of £1.4 million, have been fined by The Pensions Regulator (TPR).

A document, released under freedom of information laws, has shown The Pensions Regulator has called on pension schemes to cut transfer values.

The launch of a new FCA and TPR campaign to boost awareness of pensions scams has been welcomed by the profession.

The Pension Regulator’s (TPR) Determinations Panel has recruited five members, as it prepares to rule on master trust authorisation applications.