Brexit: making it work for pension schemes and savers

The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association today (Tuesday) underlined the three elements needed to ensure Brexit works well for pensions in the UK.

From a pension scheme perspective a successful outcome from the Brexit negotiations would include the following:

1. A robust economy: as good pensions depend on strong employer sponsors and an economic environment where employers and employees are able to make savings provision for the future, pension funds need a Brexit deal which minimises disruption to the economy. We welcome the intention of setting up a transitional regime as this should help avoid an economic cliff-edge.
2. The right regulation: if, as a result of setting up an equivalence regime, Brexit results in UK pension funds remaining subject to EU regulation, it is important that UK-only pension schemes, which do not operate on a cross-border basis, are exempted from any future EU regulation regarding a solvency-based regime.
3. A strong financial services sector: to invest efficiently, pension funds benefit from access to the UK’s successful financial services sector. It is important that such companies are able to continue using their “passports” to do business in the EU Single Market.

Graham Vidler, director of external affairs, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, said: 

“A successful Brexit matters to the 20 million workers, savers and pensioners served by our pension schemes. If the economy weakens, it will make it harder for sponsoring employers to keep DB schemes open and reduce the funds individuals can afford to put into DC pensions – but these risks can be reduced if the Government addresses the points we raise.

“We welcome Theresa May’s commitment to set up transitional arrangements to reduce any economic disruption due to leaving the Single Market. While it is not yet clear whether EU regulation, as a result of establishing equivalent rules for financial services, will encompass pension funds, we will be arguing strongly that EU rules on solvency requirements for DB pension funds should not apply to pension funds that only operate within the UK.”

-Ends-

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

We’re the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association; the national association with a ninety year history of helping pension professionals run better pension schemes. Our members include over 1,300 pension schemes with 20 million members and £1 trillion in assets, and over 400 businesses. They make us the voice for pensions and lifetime savings in Westminster, Whitehall and Brussels.

Our purpose is simple: to help everyone to achieve a better income in retirement. We work to get more money into retirement savings, to get more value out of those savings and to build the confidence and understanding of savers.

CONTACTS:

Lucy Grubb, Head of Media and PR, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
T: 020 7601 1726, M: 07713 073 023, E: [email protected]

Babak Mayamey, PR Manager, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
T: 020 7601 1718, M: 07825 171 446, E: [email protected]

Kathryn Mortimer, Press Officer, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
T: 020 7601 1748, M: 07901 007 713, E: [email protected]