Pensions Act 2004

Gathering information

72Provision of information

(1)The Regulator may, by notice in writing, require any person to whom subsection (2) applies to produce any document, or provide any other information, which is—

(a)of a description specified in the notice, and

(b)relevant to the exercise of the Regulator’s functions.

(2)This subsection applies to—

(a)a trustee or manager of an occupational or personal pension scheme,

(b)a professional adviser in relation to an occupational pension scheme,

(c)the employer in relation to—

(i)an occupational pension scheme, or

(ii)a personal pension scheme where direct payment arrangements exist in respect of one or more members of the scheme who are employees, and

(d)any other person appearing to the Regulator to be a person who holds, or is likely to hold, information relevant to the exercise of the Regulator’s functions.

(3)Where the production of a document, or the provision of information, is required by a notice given under subsection (1), the document must be produced, or information must be provided, in such a manner, at such a place and within such a period as may be specified in the notice.

73Inspection of premises

(1)An inspector may, for the purposes of investigating whether, in the case of any occupational pension scheme, the occupational scheme provisions are being, or have been, complied with, at any reasonable time enter premises liable to inspection.

(2)In subsection (1), the “occupational scheme provisions” means provisions contained in or made by virtue of—

(a)any of the following provisions of this Act—

• this Part;

• Part 3 (scheme funding);

• sections 241 to 243 (member-nominated trustees and directors);

• sections 247 to 249 (requirement for knowledge and understanding);

• section 252 (UK-based scheme to be trust with effective rules);

• section 253 (non-European scheme to be trust with UK-resident trustee);

• section 255 (activities of occupational pension schemes);

• section 256 (no indemnification for fines or civil penalties);

• sections 259 and 261 (consultation by employers);

• Part 7 (cross-border activities within European Union);

• Part 9 (miscellaneous and supplementary);

(b)either of the following provisions of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30)—

• section 33 (time for discharge of pension credit liability);

• section 45 (information);

(c)any of the provisions of Part 1 of the Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26) (occupational pension schemes), other than—

(i)sections 51 to 54 (indexation), and

(ii)sections 62 to 65 (equal treatment);

(d)any of the following provisions of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48)—

• Chapter 4 of Part 4 (transfer values);

• Chapter 5 of Part 4 (early leavers: cash transfer sums and contribution refunds);

• Chapter 2 of Part 4A (pension credit transfer values);

• section 113 (information);

• section 175 (levy);

(e)any provisions in force in Northern Ireland corresponding to any provisions within paragraphs (a) to (d).

(3)An inspector may, for the purposes of investigating whether, in the case of a stakeholder scheme—

(a)sections 1 and 2(4) of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (stakeholder pension schemes: registration etc), or

(b)any corresponding provisions in force in Northern Ireland,

are being, or have been, complied with, at any reasonable time enter premises liable to inspection.

(4)An inspector may, for the purposes of investigating whether, in the case of any trust-based personal stakeholder scheme, the trust-based scheme provisions are being, or have been, complied with, at any reasonable time enter premises liable to inspection.

(5)In subsection (4)—

• “trust-based personal stakeholder scheme” means a personal pension scheme which—

  (a)

  is a stakeholder scheme, and

  (b)

  is established under a trust;

  the “trust-based scheme provisions” means any provisions contained in or made by virtue of—

  (a)

  any provision which applies in relation to trust-based personal stakeholder schemes by virtue of paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), as the provision applies by virtue of that paragraph, or

  (b)

  any corresponding provision in force in Northern Ireland.

(6)Premises are liable to inspection for the purposes of this section if the inspector has reasonable grounds to believe that—

(a)members of the scheme are employed there,

(b)documents relevant to the administration of the scheme are being kept there, or

(c)the administration of the scheme, or work connected with that administration, is being carried out there.

(7)In this section, “stakeholder scheme” means an occupational pension scheme or a personal pension scheme which is or has been registered under—

(a)section 2 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (register of stakeholder schemes), or

(b)any corresponding provision in force in Northern Ireland.

74Inspection of premises in respect of employers' obligations

(1)An inspector may, for the purposes of investigating whether an employer is complying, or has complied, with the requirements under—

(a)section 3 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (duty of employers to facilitate access to stakeholder pension schemes), or

(b)any corresponding provision in force in Northern Ireland,

at any reasonable time enter premises liable to inspection.

(2)Premises are liable to inspection for the purposes of subsection (1) if the inspector has reasonable grounds to believe that—

(a)employees of the employer are employed there,

(b)documents relevant to the administration of the employer’s business are being kept there, or

(c)the administration of the employer’s business, or work connected with that administration, is being carried out there.

(3)In subsections (1) and (2), “employer” has the meaning given by section 3(9) of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (or, where subsection (1)(b) applies, by any corresponding provision in force in Northern Ireland).

(4)An inspector may, for the purposes of investigating whether, in the case of any direct payment arrangements relating to a personal pension scheme, any of the following provisions—

(a)regulations made by virtue of sections 260 and 261 (consultation by employers),

(b)section 111A of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48) (monitoring of employers' payments to personal pension schemes), or

(c)any corresponding provisions in force in Northern Ireland,

is being, or has been, complied with, at any reasonable time enter premises liable to inspection.

(5)Premises are liable to inspection for the purposes of subsection (4) if the inspector has reasonable grounds to believe that—

(a)employees of the employer are employed there,

(b)documents relevant to the administration of—

(i)the employer’s business,

(ii)the direct payment arrangements, or

(iii)the scheme to which those arrangements relate,

are being kept there, or

(c)either of the following is being carried out there—

(i)the administration of the employer’s business, the arrangements or the scheme;

(ii)work connected with that administration.

(6)In the application of subsections (4) and (5) in relation to any provision mentioned in subsection (4)(c) (a “corresponding Northern Ireland provision”), references in those subsections to—

• direct payment arrangements,

• a personal pension scheme,

• the employer, or

• employees of the employer,

are to be read as having the meanings that they have for the purposes of the corresponding Northern Ireland provision.

75Inspection of premises: powers of inspectors

(1)Subsection (2) applies where, for a purpose mentioned in subsection (1), (3) or (4) of section 73 or subsection (1) or (4) of section 74, an inspector enters premises which are liable to inspection for the purposes of that provision.

(2)While there, the inspector—

(a)may make such examination and inquiry as may be necessary for the purpose for which he entered the premises,

(b)may require any person on the premises to produce, or secure the production of, any document relevant to compliance with the regulatory provisions for his inspection,

(c)may take copies of any such document,

(d)may take possession of any document appearing to be a document relevant to compliance with the regulatory provisions or take in relation to any such document any other steps which appear necessary for preserving it or preventing interference with it,

(e)may, in the case of any such document which consists of information which is stored in electronic form and is on, or accessible from, the premises, require the information to be produced in a form—

(i)in which it can be taken away, and

(ii)in which it is legible or from which it can readily be produced in a legible form, and

(f)may, as to any matter relevant to compliance with the regulatory provisions, examine, or require to be examined, either alone or in the presence of another person, any person on the premises whom he has reasonable cause to believe to be able to give information relevant to that matter.

76Inspection of premises: supplementary

(1)This section applies for the purposes of sections 73 to 75.

(2)Premises which are a private dwelling-house not used by, or by permission of, the occupier for the purposes of a trade or business are not liable to inspection.

(3)Any question whether—

(a)anything is being or has been done or omitted which might by virtue of any of the regulatory provisions give rise to a liability for a civil penalty under or by virtue of section 10 of the Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26) or section 168(4) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48) (or under or by virtue of any provision in force in Northern Ireland corresponding to either of them), or

(b)an offence is being or has been committed under any of the regulatory provisions,

is to be treated as a question whether the regulatory provision is being, or has been, complied with.

(4)An inspector applying for admission to any premises for the purposes of section 73 or 74 must, if so required, produce his certificate of appointment.

(5)When exercising a power under section 73, 74 or 75 an inspector may be accompanied by such persons as he considers appropriate.

(6)Any document of which possession is taken under section 75 may be retained—

(a)if the document is relevant to proceedings against any person for any offence which are commenced before the end of the retention period, until the conclusion of those proceedings, and

(b)otherwise, until the end of the retention period.

(7)In subsection (6), “the retention period” means the period comprising—

(a)the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which possession was taken of the document, and

(b)any extension of that period under subsection (8).

(8)The Regulator may, by a direction made before the end of the retention period (including any extension of it under this subsection), extend it by such period not exceeding 12 months as the Regulator considers appropriate.

(9)“The regulatory provisions”, in relation to an inspection under subsection (1), (3) or (4) of section 73 or subsection (1) or (4) of section 74, means the provision or provisions referred to in that subsection.

77Penalties relating to sections 72 to 75

(1)A person who, without reasonable excuse, neglects or refuses to provide information or produce a document when required to do so under section 72 is guilty of an offence.

(2)A person who without reasonable excuse—

(a)intentionally delays or obstructs an inspector exercising any power under section 73, 74 or 75,

(b)neglects or refuses to produce, or secure the production of, any document when required to do so under section 75, or

(c)neglects or refuses to answer a question or to provide information when so required,

is guilty of an offence.

(3)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(4)An offence under subsection (1) or (2)(b) or (c) may be charged by reference to any day or longer period of time; and a person may be convicted of a second or subsequent offence by reference to any period of time following the preceding conviction of the offence.

(5)Any person who intentionally and without reasonable excuse alters, suppresses, conceals or destroys any document which he is or is liable to be required to produce under section 72 or 75 is guilty of an offence.

(6)Any person guilty of an offence under subsection (5) is liable—

(a)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;

(b)on conviction on indictment, to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both.

78Warrants

(1)A justice of the peace may issue a warrant under this section if satisfied on information on oath given by or on behalf of the Regulator that there are reasonable grounds for believing—

(a)that there is on, or accessible from, any premises any document—

(i)whose production has been required under section 72 or 75, or any corresponding provision in force in Northern Ireland, and

(ii)which has not been produced in compliance with that requirement,

(b)that there is on, or accessible from, any premises any document whose production could be so required and, if its production were so required, the document—

(i)would not be produced, but

(ii)would be removed, or made inaccessible, from the premises, hidden, tampered with or destroyed, or

(c)that—

(i)an offence has been committed,

(ii)a person will do any act which constitutes a misuse or misappropriation of the assets of an occupational pension scheme or a personal pension scheme,

(iii)a person is liable to pay a penalty under or by virtue of section 10 of the Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26) (civil penalties) or section 168(4) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48) (civil penalties for breach of regulations), or under or by virtue of any provision in force in Northern Ireland corresponding to either of them, or

(iv)a person is liable to be prohibited from being a trustee of an occupational or personal pension scheme under section 3 of the Pensions Act 1995 (prohibition orders), including that section as it applies by virtue of paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30) (stakeholder schemes), or under or by virtue of any corresponding provisions in force in Northern Ireland,

and that there is on, or accessible from, any premises any document which relates to whether the offence has been committed, whether the act will be done or whether the person is so liable, and whose production could be required under section 72 or 75 or any corresponding provision in force in Northern Ireland.

(2)A warrant under this section shall authorise an inspector—

(a)to enter the premises specified in the information, using such force as is reasonably necessary for the purpose,

(b)to search the premises and—

(i)take possession of any document appearing to be such a document as is mentioned in subsection (1), or

(ii)take in relation to such a document any other steps which appear necessary for preserving it or preventing interference with it,

(c)to take copies of any such document,

(d)to require any person named in the warrant to provide an explanation of any such document or to state where it may be found or how access to it may be obtained, and

(e)in the case of any such document which consists of information which is stored in electronic form and is on, or accessible from, the premises, to require the information to be produced in a form—

(i)in which it can be taken away, and

(ii)in which it is legible or from which it can readily be produced in a legible form.

(3)In subsection (1), any reference in paragraph (a) or (b) to a document does not include any document which is relevant to whether a person has complied with—

(a)subsection (3) of section 238 (information and advice to employees) or regulations under subsection (4) of that section, or

(b)any provision in force in Northern Ireland which corresponds to that subsection (3) or is made under provision corresponding to that subsection (4),

and is not relevant to the exercise of the Regulator’s functions for any other reason.

(4)For the purposes of subsection (1)(c)(iii), any liability to pay a penalty under—

(a)section 10 of the Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), or

(b)any corresponding provision in force in Northern Ireland,

which might arise out of a failure to comply with any provision within subsection (3)(a) or (b) is to be disregarded.

(5)References in subsection (2) to such a document as is mentioned in subsection (1) are to be read in accordance with subsections (3) and (4).

(6)When executing a warrant under this section, an inspector may be accompanied by such persons as he considers appropriate.

(7)A warrant under this section continues in force until the end of the period of one month beginning with the day on which it is issued.

(8)Any document of which possession is taken under this section may be retained—

(a)if the document is relevant to proceedings against any person for any offence which are commenced before the end of the retention period, until the conclusion of those proceedings, and

(b)otherwise, until the end of the retention period.

(9)In subsection (8), “the retention period” means the period comprising—

(a)the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which possession was taken of the document, and

(b)any extension of that period under subsection (10).

(10)The Regulator may, by a direction made before the end of the retention period (including any extension of it under this subsection), extend it by such period not exceeding 12 months as the Regulator considers appropriate.

(11)In the application of this section in Scotland—

(a)the reference to a justice of the peace is to be read as a reference to the sheriff, and

(b)the references in subsections (1) and (2)(a) to information are to be read as references to evidence.

79Sections 72 to 78: interpretation

(1)This section applies for the purposes of sections 72 to 78.

(2)“Document” includes information recorded in any form, and any reference to production of a document, in relation to information recorded otherwise than in a legible form, is to producing a copy of the information—

(a)in a legible form, or

(b)in a form from which it can readily be produced in a legible form.

(3)“Inspector” means a person appointed by the Regulator as an inspector.