Board and Determinations Panel Members’ gifts and hospitality policy
Approved on 27 July 2026
On this page
- Scope
- Principles
- Acceptance of gifts
- Giving hospitality
- Receiving hospitality
- Gifts and hospitality register
Scope
This policy applies to all members of The Pensions Regulator's (TPR) Board; both executive and non-executive, and to the Chair and members of TPR’s Determinations Panel (DP). Hereafter, collectively referred to as ‘members’ within this policy, unless a subsection applies only to one or another group specifically; in which case this will be made explicit.
Principles
Attention is drawn to the Code of conduct for board members of public bodies, which includes sections on allowances, gifts and hospitality that are of relevance, set within the wider context of protecting public funds and avoiding waste and extravagance.
Acceptance of gifts
It is possible members may be offered gifts in connection with their activities as office holders of TPR.
In line with Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and government guidance, all offers of gifts, however small and whether accepted or not, must be reported to TPR.
The following bullet points highlight the main elements of this policy If a member is offered a gift they should notify the Board Secretary, Determinations Panel Support Team, or Corporate Governance Team (as appropriate) for advice on what action should be taken.
- cash gifts should not be accepted
- gifts of value below £25 may usually be accepted as long as they are occasional and not repeated offers
- gifts of value above £100 should not be accepted
- guidance should be sought from the Enterprise Compliance and Complaints Team (EC&C) in relation to offers of gifts of value between £25 and £100
- gifts should not be accepted personally (giving rise to a tax liability) but on behalf of TPR
Giving hospitality
Definition
Hospitality is the provision of refreshments or a meal (whether on or off business premises) to guests who are not employees or officers of TPR. TPR acknowledges that it will occasionally be appropriate for the Chair, DP Panel Chair and/or members to offer modest hospitality.
Where meetings are hosted by or at TPR, refreshments and/or a modest lunch as appropriate will usually be provided. A working dinner may be provided for such meetings, particularly if meetings span consecutive days, start early or finish late. The guidelines below for Chair and CEO hospitality are also relevant in this case.
Table 1: Hospitality
| Hospitality Offered / Not Offered | Who | Process | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offered: Hosting a working meal with external parties on behalf of TPR | Member or DP Chair | Seek prior agreement from Chief Operating Officer | Reimbursement up to a maximum of £60 per head |
| Offered: Hosting a working meal with external parties on behalf of TPR | Board Chair and CEO | Seek prior agreement from Chief Operating Officer | Reimbursement up to a maximum of £60 per head |
| Not Offered: Attending (but not hosting) a working meal with external parties on behalf of TPR | Members, Board Chair, DP Chair, CEO | Make clear with the external party that TPR is not ‘hosting’ the event | Claim reimbursement only of their own personal expense, in line with the board’s expenses policy |
Receiving hospitality
It is important that members are (and are seen to be) independent. It may be permissible on occasions to accept modest hospitality such as working lunches or other meals when official business is conducted, and it is a reasonable means of doing an effective job.
Members should notify the Chair or CEO before accepting hospitality and all offers should be reported to TPR and will be recorded on the register of gifts and hospitality.
For guidance as to whether hospitality should be accepted, please consult the Enterprise Compliance and Complaints Team.
Provision of alcohol
The provision of alcoholic drinks at public expense is considered a very sensitive issue, therefore TPR has taken the decision not to permit the provision of alcohol in any circumstances.
Gifts and hospitality register
TPR maintains a register of gifts and hospitality offered to Board and Determinations Panel members, which includes a record of estimated values and clarification regarding whether the gift/hospitality was accepted. Where declarations are made, these will be published online.