Changes
84.The Morris Review of the Actuarial Profession recommended that the Financial Reporting Council should establish a new regime to set actuarial standards and to oversee the regulation of the Profession. The Financial Reporting Council is the UK’s independent regulator for corporate reporting and governance. The Government accepted this recommendation and the Financial Reporting Council has now set up the Board for Actuarial Standards to promote confidence in corporate reporting and governance by setting high quality actuarial standards. The Institute of Actuaries in England and Wales and the Faculty of Actuaries in Scotland continue to exist as the professional bodies for the profession in their respective jurisdictions.
85.On 6 April 2007, the Board for Actuarial Standards adopted and took responsibility for the existing versions of the pensions Guidance Notes and the Technical Memorandum.
86.In order to maintain the independence of the Financial Reporting Council, and through it the Board for Actuarial Standards, as the UK’s independent regulator for corporate reporting and governance, the Act contains provisions removing from primary legislation the requirement for the Secretary of State to approve the three Guidance Notes and the Technical Memorandum.