The Pensions Regulator

Pensions Regulator's first determinations panel is announced

Ref: PN05-08
4 April 2005

The chairman of the Pensions Regulator's first determinations panel, Mr John Scampion, has announced the appointment of members to the panel.

Commissioner member of the Healthcare Commission, member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel and former metropolitan local authority CEO, Mr Scampion will chair the panel from 6 April, when the Pensions Regulator replaces Opra as the regulator of occupational pension schemes in the UK.

Seven members have been appointed to the determinations panel, in addition to the chair, including:

Duncan Campbell - Opra board member since 2001, he was recently appointed to the chair of the disciplinary sub-committee of the Banking Code Standards Board, is legal adviser at CBI since 2002 and is also mediator at CEDR (centre for effective dispute resolution) since 2000. He has also worked in a legal capacity for IBM UK and IBM Europe during the period 1970-1999.

Geoffrey Fitchew - former chairman of the Building Society Commission (1994-2001), he is also former European Commission director general for financial institutions and company law (1986-1993) and spent 22 years as a civil servant at the Treasury working in international finance (1964 to 1986).

Michael Maunsell - former managing partner of Lovell, White and Durrant solicitors (1993-1997), he is a solicitor by career having worked at Lovell, White and Durrant solicitors since 1965.

Dianne Hayter - vice-chairman of the Financial Services Consumer Panel and board member of the National Consumer Council since 2001, she is also a member of the Labour Party National Executive Committee and a former board member of the National Patient Safety Agency (2001-2004).

Suzanne McCarthy - former CEO of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (2000-2004), she is also former CEO of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (1996-2000).

Olivia Dickson - former senior adviser to the Financial Services Authority (2000-2004), she is also former managing director of JP Morgan (1993-1998) and former non-executive director of the London International Financial Futures Exchange (1995-1997).

Daniel Taylor - Company solicitor for News International Newspapers Limited (1993-2005) and solicitor at News Group Newspapers Limited (1988-1993), he is also the former chairman of trustees of the News International Pension Plan (2001-2005).

The determinations panel will be responsible for making formal decisions relating to individual cases where the Pensions Regulator seeks to use its powers.

These decisions are called "determinations" and the panel will have the power to make a determination where:

• the regulator seeks to sanction or prosecute a breach of pensions law;
• a problem has arisen in a scheme that the regulator considers can be put right with the use of one of its powers; or
• an application has been made by trustees, managers, members or employers of a scheme for the regulator to use one of its powers.

Editor's notes

1. In most cases, a determination is carried out by the determinations panel. Members of the panel are independent of the regulator and are not involved in investigating cases.
2. Any party directly affected by a determination may appeal against the decision within 28 days, by applying to the Pensions Regulator Tribunal, which is the independent body set up to hear appeals.
3. On 6 April 2005, the Pensions Regulator will be established as the new regulator of work-based pensions in the UK, with wider and more flexible powers under the Pensions Act 2004. It will replace Opra which will cease to exist.
4. The new powers of the Pensions Regulator will include the ability to: