Pension Schemes Act 2021

9 Decision on application E+W+S

(1) Where an application is made for authorisation of a collective money purchase scheme under section 8, the Pensions Regulator must decide whether it is satisfied that the scheme meets the authorisation criteria.

(2) The Pensions Regulator must make that decision within the period of six months beginning with the day on which the Pensions Regulator received the application.

(3) The authorisation criteria are—

(a) that the persons involved in the scheme are fit and proper persons (see section 11),

(b) that the design of the scheme is sound (see section 12),

(c) that the scheme is financially sustainable (see section 14),

[F1 (ca) where the scheme is an unconnected multiple employer scheme, that—

(i) the scheme has a single scheme proprietor (see section 14B), and

(ii) the scheme proprietor meets the requirements set out in section 14C,]

[F1 (cb) where the scheme is an unconnected multiple employer scheme, that—

(i) no person has carried out promotion or marketing of the scheme that is unclear or misleading without rectification (see section 14D(1)), and

(ii) the scheme has adequate systems and processes for securing that promotion or marketing of the scheme is clear and not misleading (see section 14D(2) and (3)),]

[F1 (cc) where the scheme is an unconnected multiple employer scheme, that no trustee of the scheme—

(i) promotes or markets the scheme, or

(ii) acts as a chief financial officer of the scheme,]

(d) that the scheme has adequate systems and processes for communicating with members and others (see section 15),

(e) that the systems and processes used in running the scheme are sufficient to ensure that it is run effectively (see section 16), F2 ...

(f) that the scheme has an adequate continuity strategy (see section 17) [F3 , and]

[F4 (g) where the scheme is an unconnected multiple employer scheme, that if—

(i) a triggering event occurs in relation to the scheme, and

(ii) the circumstances are such that the trustees of the scheme are not required to pursue continuity option 1 by virtue of section 34(3),

the trustees will not be prevented from pursuing continuity option 3 if they consider it appropriate to do so (see sections 17A, 31 and 34).]

[F5 (3A) Subsection (3)(cb)(ii) does not apply if no person is carrying out promotion or marketing of the scheme.]

(4) If the Pensions Regulator is satisfied that the collective money purchase scheme meets the authorisation criteria, it must—

(a) grant the authorisation,

(b) notify the applicant of its decision, and

(c) add the scheme to its list of authorised collective money purchase schemes (see section 26).

(5) If the Pensions Regulator is not satisfied that the collective money purchase scheme meets the authorisation criteria, it must—

(a) refuse to grant the authorisation, and

(b) notify the applicant of its decision.

(6) A notification under subsection (5)(b) must also include—

(a) the reasons for the decision, and

(b) details of the right of referral to the First-tier Tribunal or Upper Tribunal (see section 10).

[F6 (7) In this Part—

• “promotion or marketing” of a scheme means any communication about the scheme for the purpose of inducing an employer (or prospective employer) to use, or continue to use, the scheme (whether or not that communication is accompanied by an offer of, or provision of, a benefit);

• “rectification”, in relation to promotion or marketing that is unclear or misleading, means that a clarification or correction is made in relation to the promotion or marketing as soon as practicable,

(and related expressions are to be read accordingly).]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 9(3)(ca)-(cc) inserted (31.7.2026) by The Occupational Pension Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) (Extension to Unconnected Multiple Employer Schemes and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1313), regs. 1(3), 5(a)(i)

F2 Word in s. 9(3)(e) omitted (31.7.2026) by virtue of The Occupational Pension Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) (Extension to Unconnected Multiple Employer Schemes and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1313), regs. 1(3), 5(a)(ii)

F3 Word in s. 9(3)(f) inserted (31.7.2026) by The Occupational Pension Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) (Extension to Unconnected Multiple Employer Schemes and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1313), regs. 1(3), 5(a)(iii)

F4 S. 9(3)(g) inserted (31.7.2026) by The Occupational Pension Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) (Extension to Unconnected Multiple Employer Schemes and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1313), regs. 1(3), 5(a)(iv)

F5 S. 9(3A) inserted (31.7.2026) by The Occupational Pension Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) (Extension to Unconnected Multiple Employer Schemes and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1313), regs. 1(3), 5(b)

F6 S. 9(7) inserted (31.7.2026) by The Occupational Pension Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) (Extension to Unconnected Multiple Employer Schemes and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1313), regs. 1(3), 5(c)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 9 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 131(3)(a)

I2 S. 9 in force at 1.8.2022 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2022/721, reg. 3(a)