DC trust

DC trust is an annual publication giving a high-level snapshot of the trust-based DC and hybrid landscape.


The Purple Book

The Purple Book is a joint annual publication by the Pension Protection Fund and The Pensions Regulator. It focuses on the risks faced by defined benefit pension schemes, predominantly in the private sector.

  • Publication: The Purple Book 2011 (PDF, 4223kb)

    Published: January 2012

    The Purple Books give the most comprehensive picture of the risks faced by PPF-eligible defined benefit pension schemes

  • Publication: The Purple Book 2010 (PDF, 2975kb)

    Published: November 2010

    The fifth edition of The Purple Book showing that with the economic and financial market environment improving over the last 12 months to March 2010, this led to reduced risks for DB schemes.

  • Publication: The Purple Book 2009 (PDF, 6847kb, 156 pages)

    Published: January 2010

    In-depth analysis of how the UK's DB pension schemes fared during the economic turbulence. Purple 2009 has been based on the most comprehensive datasets extracted from the pensions universe to date, covering around 97% of eligible schemes.

  • Publication: The Purple Book 2008 (PDF, 4299kb, 157 pages)

    Published: December 2008

    The third edition of the purple book, the DB pensions universe risk profile, builds on data from the first two editions. It includes new chapters on PPF compensation payments and risk education and analyses data from over 93% of PPF-eligible schemes.

  • Publication: The Purple Book 2007 (PDF, 2787kb, 159 pages)

    Published: December 2007

    The second edition of the pensions universe risk profile, aimed at increasing knowledge and helping understanding of DB schemes in the UK. Purple 2007 builds on data gathered in its predecessor and includes information from a further 2,000 schemes.

  • Publication: The Purple Book 2006 (PDF, 507kb, 96 pages)

    Published: December 2006

    The first edition of the Pensions Universe Risk Profile, a joint publication by The Pensions Regulator and the Pension Protection Fund. The purple book focuses on the risks of DB scheme members not receiving promised benefits and of calls on the PPF.


Scheme funding analysis

The annual scheme funding report is based on the analysis of recovery plans submitted to The Pensions Regulator. It is presented in order to reflect the current status of scheme funding, but also provides a brief overview of clearances. (The statistics contained in this publication are produced in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority Code for official statistics which came into force in January 2009.)


Scheme governance surveys

The annual governance survey is conducted by The Pensions Regulator amongst a representative sample of trust-based occupational schemes across industry. It's designed to monitor the standards of scheme governance of trust-based occupational pension schemes and to inform the regulator’s understanding.


Perceptions tracker surveys

The perceptions tracker survey is an annual survey involving extensive interviews across our key stakeholder audiences.

It enables us to monitor opinions and perceptions of us as a regulator and gives a good indication of how satisfied people are with their contact with us.

Note: In a redesign of the survey in 2006 the scale was revised in order to improve quality and accuracy. While this brings improvements in survey results now and in future years, it means it's not possible to directly compare results from 2005 to 2006.

  • Report: Perceptions tracker 2007 (PDF, 343kb, 91 pages)

    Published: April 2008

    The full report on findings from the fourth independent perceptions survey. It provides a detailed breakdown and analysis of stakeholder responses regarding key elements, both in our performance and in perception of us as a regulator.

  • Presentation: Perceptions tracker 2006 (PDF, 527kb, 63 pages)

    Published: April 2007

    Presentation slides with results from the 2006 stakeholder survey. The redesign for this year allowed a more realistic picture of perceptions of the regulator across the whole industry. Overall, performance and perceptions continue to be positive.

  • Presentation: Perceptions tracker 2005 (PDF, 341kb, 58 pages)

    Published: March 2006

    Presentation slides from the stakeholder survey of 2005 and the perception of the new regulator. Findings indicate that overall, awareness of the regulator’s role and satisfaction with the quality of its communications has increased from its predecessor.


Other research reports