The Occupational Pension Schemes (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 1996

Limited disclosure requirement imposed on trustees of schemes which are not tax-approved or public service pension schemes and on trustees of a scheme established by the Salvation Army Act 1963

8.—(1) This regulation applies to schemes to which neither regulation 2(1)(a) nor (b) refers and to a scheme established by the Salvation Army Act 1963.

(2) Where this regulation applies, the trustees—

(a) shall give, as of course, in writing, where practicable to every prospective member, and where it has not been practicable so to do, to a person within 2 months of his becoming a member of the scheme, the information specified in paragraphs 12, 19 and 24 to 29 of Schedule 1, together with—

(i) a statement as to which of the benefits are, and which are not funded, and where benefits are funded, the manner in which they are secured, and

(ii) a statement that the provisions of the 1995 Act, subject to certain exceptions, are not applicable to the scheme; and

(b) to the extent that the information specified in sub-paragraph (a) has not previously been given to a person who was a member of the scheme on 5th April 1997, shall give such information to that person by 5th April 1998.

(3) The information referred to in paragraph (2) shall be given to any independent trade union, in so far as that information is relevant to the rights of members or prospective members of the scheme who are of a class of employee in relation to which it is a recognised trade union for the purposes of collective bargaining, on request as soon as practicable and in any event within 2 months of the request being made.

(4) When any information specified in paragraph (2) is provided, it shall be accompanied by a written statement that further information about the scheme is available, giving the address to which enquiries about it should be sent.