Part 1

The Pensions Regulator

Provision of false or misleading information

Offences of providing false or misleading information
80
1
Any person who knowingly or recklessly provides the Regulator with information which is false or misleading in a material particular is guilty of an offence if the information—
a
is provided in purported compliance with a requirement under—
i
section 62 (the register: duties of trustees or managers),
ii
section 64 (duty of trustees or managers to provide scheme return),
iia
section 69 (duty to notify the Regulator of certain events),
iii
section 72 (provision of information), ...
iiia
section 72A (interviews),
iv
section 75 (inspection of premises: powers of inspectors), ...
iva
regulations under section 221B(8)(d) (duty of trustees or managers to provide statement of strategy), or
v
regulations under section 11 of the Pensions Act 2008,
b
is provided in applying for registration of a pension scheme under section 2 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30) (registration of stakeholder pension schemes), or
c
is provided otherwise than as mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) but in circumstances in which the person providing the information intends, or could reasonably be expected to know, that it would be used by the Regulator for the purpose of exercising its functions under—
i
the Pensions Act 1995,
ii
this Act,
iii
the Pensions Act 2008,
iv
Schedule 18 to the Pensions Act 2014,
v
the Pension Schemes Act 2017, or
vi
Part 1 of the Pension Schemes Act 2021.
2
Any person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) 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.
S. 80 in force at 6.4.2005 by S.I. 2005/275, art. 2(7), Sch. Pt. 7
Pt. 1 applied in part (with modifications) (20.7.2005 for specified purposes, 1.9.2005 for specified purposes, 5.12.2005 for specified purposes) by The Financial Assistance Scheme Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1986), regs. 1(1), 4, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 (as amended (17.7.2008) by The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1903), regs. 1, 5(2), 13; (10.7.2009) by The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1851), regs. 1, 5, 18; (2.4.2010) by The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1149), regs. 1, 5, 15)
Word in s. 80(1)(a)(iii) repealed (30.6.2012) by Pensions Act 2008 (c. 30), ss. 48(b), 149(1), Sch. 11 Pt. 1; S.I. 2012/1682, art. 2, Sch. 2
S. 80(1)(a)(v) and word inserted (30.6.2012) by Pensions Act 2008 (c. 30), ss. 48(a), 149(1); S.I. 2012/1682, art. 2, Sch. 2
S. 80(1)(a)(iia) inserted (1.10.2021) by Pension Schemes Act 2021 (c. 1), ss. 108(3), 131(1); S.I. 2021/950, reg. 2(3)(e) (with reg. 4)
S. 80(1)(a)(iiia) inserted (1.10.2021) by Pension Schemes Act 2021 (c. 1), s. 131(1), Sch. 7 para. 7(2); S.I. 2021/950, reg. 2(4)(d)
S. 80(1)(c)(i)-(vi) substituted for words (1.10.2021 except for the reference to the Pension Schemes Act 2021, Pt. 1, 1.8.2022 in so far as not already in force) by Pension Schemes Act 2021 (c. 1), s. 131(1), Sch. 7 para. 7(3); S.I. 2021/950, reg. 2(4)(d); S.I. 2022/721, reg. 3(d)
S. 80(1)(a)(iva) inserted (11.2.2021 for specified purposes, 6.4.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Pension Schemes Act 2021 (c. 1), s. 131(1)(3)(b), Sch. 10 para. 10(b); S.I. 2024/451, reg. 2(b)
Word in s. 80(1)(a)(iv) omitted (11.2.2021 for specified purposes, 6.4.2024 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Pension Schemes Act 2021 (c. 1), s. 131(1)(3)(b), Sch. 10 para. 10(a); S.I. 2024/451, reg. 2(b)