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Talking Pensions Ep26: Bob Scott
In this edition of Talking Pensions (recorded in December 2025), Paul talks to Bob Scott, senior partner at Lane Clark & Peacock. They discuss Bob's long career as a consulting actuary and expert witness. To read a transcript of the podcast, click on the pdf below.
Recent Virgin Media amendment withdrawn
On 9 January we reported that an amendment had been tabled to the Pension Schemes Bill to exclude from the scope of the Virgin Media remedy those amendments which are the subject of existing legal proceedings. That amendment was withdrawn at yesterday’s House of Lords Committee hearing, and will therefore not be part of the Bill going forward.
Judge criticises tPR approach to auto-enrolment appeal
In 4 Wheeler Ltd v The Pensions Regulator [2026] UKFTT 00153 (GRC), the First Tier Tribunal struck out an employer’s appeal against a Fixed Notice Penalty imposed for failure to comply with auto-enrolment requirements. However, the Judge registered two concerns over tPR’s conduct of the case. First, he criticised tPR’s mis-statement of the applicable law in its written argument and recommended an urgent review of its standard pleadings and submissions to avoid prejudicing the
Legal issues arising from the Virgin Media fix
Paul Newman KC considers the legal issues faced by trustees and actuaries when making and responding to requests for confirmation under the remedial provisions in the Pension Schemes Bill. To read the article, click on the pdf below.
The Court’s approach to scheme amendment powers
Thomas Seymour concludes his personal reflections on pensions law and practice by considering how the Courts have dealt over time with scheme amendment powers. To read the article, click on the pdf below.
Actuarial guidance for Virgin Media confirmations published
The Financial Reporting Council has issued technical guidance to assist scheme actuaries in considering whether to provide a confirmation under the provisions of the Pension Schemes Bill, providing for a remedy in respect of the Virgin Media decision. The guidance has been published before the Bill is enacted, to give actuaries sufficient time to prepare for requests for confirmation. The guidance will be updated as necessary to reflect any changes made to the legislation th
Personal Reflections on DB Schemes
Thomas Seymour was called to the Bar in 1975. In this article, he reflects on his long experience as a pensions practitioner and comments on the legislative and judicial approaches to DB schemes during that time. To read the article, click on the pdf below.
The Ombudsman’s New Orthodoxy: Right or Wrong?
Zara Yusuf, of Three Stone Chambers, considers the recent Ombudsman determinations on the scope of the trustees’ responsibility for statutory transfers of pension benefits, and asks whether the approach adopted is overly restrictive. To read the article, click on the pdf below.
Amendment proposed to existing claims exclusion in "Virgin Media" Bill
According to the latest list of proposed amendments to be moved at the House of Lords Committee stage of the Pension Schemes Bill, Baroness Bowles has tabled an amendment to clause 100 of the Bill, which concerns the remedial provisions intended to deal with the Virgin Media decision. The amendment seeks to remove subsections (9) and (10), which exclude from the scope of the remedy amendments which are the subject of existing legal proceedings. The Committee begins its rev
Compromising complex pensions claims
Paul Newman KC looks at the recent High Court approval of a compromise in the long-running saga involving the Places for People Group Retirement Benefit Scheme, which contains a useful explanation of the approach to be taken by the Court in approving the settlement of a complex set of pensions issues.
Compromise approved in Places for People case
The long-running saga involving the Places for People Group Retirement Benefit Scheme has finally come to an end with the High Court this afternoon approving a compromise of all the issues relating to the validity and rectification of scheme documents, following a two-day hearing. Although the judgment of Richards J makes no new law, it contains useful summaries of the approach to be taken by the Court in approving a compromise in the pensions context, and of the law on recti
Merry Christmas from Pensions Barrister!
Pensions Barrister is off to do the Christmas shopping and eat mince pies and will be back in the New Year with more content! Many thanks to all of our readers for your support in 2025.
