On 26 June 2018, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) published the first of its promised consultations following on from the White Paper. This new consultation, which closes on 21 August 2018, covers proposals for a range of new powers for the Pensions Regulator (TPR).
The DWP notes that the impact of the proposed changes will be limited for the vast majority of responsible employers. Instead, the consultation, entitled ‘A Stronger Pensions Regulator’, is aimed at ensuring that, where employers do put a scheme at risk, TPR is better equipped to step in before long-term harm is done. However, it is likely that the proposed new regulatory framework will have some implications for many trustees and sponsoring employers, especially those involved in corporate transactions.