FOI reference - FOI-263
Date - 28 May 2024
Request
I would like to make a request under FOI that you provide a complete list of all pension providers that you deal with.
Response
I confirm that we hold the information you have requested. However, some of the information you have requested is exempt from disclosure.
As we have been given strong powers to demand documents and other information from trustees, employers and others, those powers are also balanced by restrictions on how we disclose the information provided to us. The type of information you have requested would be ‘restricted information’. Restricted information is defined at section 82(4) of the Pensions Act 2004 (PA04) as:
‘…information obtained by the Regulator in the exercise of its functions which relates to the business or other affairs of any person’.
Under section 82(5) of the PA04 it is a criminal offence to disclose such information except as permitted under that Act.
Whilst the FoIA is based on the presumption of releasing information, section 44(1)(a) of the FoIA provides an absolute exemption to the requirement to disclose any information if its disclosure is prohibited by or under any enactment. In this case, section 82 of the PA04 prohibits disclosure and we are unable to disclose the requested information. This exemption is absolute and does not require a public interest assessment be undertaken.
Duty to provide further assistance
- A list of all stakeholder pensions schemes in Great Britain and Northern Ireland can be requested by emailing customersupport@tpr.gov.uk and asking for a copy of the stakeholder register.
- A list of authorised master trusts.
- A list of authorised collective money purchase schemes (known as collective defined contribution or CDC schemes).
- An overview of the occupational defined benefit (DB) and hybrid scheme landscape in the UK is published annually and our most recent publication is for 2023.
- An overview of the occupational defined contribution (DC) trust-based landscape in the UK, reporting on memberships and assets is published annually and our most recent publication is for 2023.
Alternatively, if you are looking to understand all the companies which can provide pensions, such as insurers and life companies, then your request might be better directed to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) who regulate providers of financial services including pension providers. They can be contacted at:
FCA
12 Endeavour Square
London
E20 1JN
Consumer Helpline: 0800 111 6768
Firm Helpline: 0300 500 0597
Website: www.fca.org.uk