Plans to beef up the powers of The Pensions Regulator have won the backing of a specialist law firm which deals with pensions and retirement savings.

Sacker & Partners has responded to the Department for Work and Pensions’ consultation ‘Protecting Defined Benefit Pension Schemes – A Stronger Pensions Regulator’, which closed on Tuesday.
 
Faith Dickson, partner at Sackers, said: “We welcome the DWP’s proposals and their efforts to create a stronger regulator.

“In our view, the key to success will be to focus on making sure that their powers are clear and that they can be used quickly, to ensure that the new regime operates as intended.”

Sackers says TPR’s powers are set to be considerably strengthened in three core areas:

• Notifiable events framework
• Declaration of intent
• Improved regulator powers

On the first point the firm said: “While the proposals may have captured certain recent high-profile cases, we would question if they will provide the broader early warning system that is needed.

“The key here is for any changes to enable trustees to access information more quickly, which in turn should lead to better communication between employers, TPR and trustees.”
 
On ‘declaration of intent’ Sackers said: “In an ideal scenario, open dialogue and information sharing will already be in place where possible. 

“But there is a risk that for some employers the proposed requirement could become just another tick-box compliance routine, with the result that declarations will fail to have the desired impact.

“In practice, open and timely dialogue between trustees and TPR can be effective in addressing concerns.”

Finally, commenting on ‘improved regulator powers’, the firm said: “While we recognise that TPR and trustees always having relevant, up-to-date information is difficult to police, we believe that more specific disclosure powers, supported by the proposed new offences, could help strengthen the trustee position when seeking information from employers.

“When decisions could potentially impact on the employer covenant, such as dividend payments or transactions, it would be helpful for trustees to be able to require underlying information before the events take place, ensuring well-informed decisions.

“We would also suggest that any new fines would need to be in addition to the existing penalty regime, to genuinely act as a deterrent, and that greater clarity as to when TPR’s powers are to be used is needed.”
 
Ms Dickson said the consultation proposed “a radical overhaul of TPR’s powers” which would “raise the stakes considerably” for all employers and trustees involved in occupational pension schemes.

She added: “The impact of the new powers is highly dependent on careful and clear drafting, in order to avoid unintended consequences.

“TPR’s resources and its ability and appetite to use any new powers will also be crucial.”