Regulator publishes guide for trustees

The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (OPRA) has published a new guide for pension scheme trustees. It is aimed at new trustees, including member-nominated trustees, or people who may be thinking of becoming a trustee.

Although the comprehensive 72-page guide covers all the main areas of trustees' duties and responsibilities it recommends that new trustees should always ensure they get thorough training and keep up-to-date with changes in pensions legislation.

The 10 sections of the booklet cover basic definitions of occupational pension schemes and trustees; trustee duties; liability of trustees; appointing and removing trustees; professional advisers; scheme funding; scheme investment; following procedures; special situations such as scheme surpluses and mergers and takeovers; scheme regulation.

Over 100,000 copies of the guide will be distributed next month to trustees of every occupational pension scheme in the UK. Printed copies will also be available free from OPRA (tel: 01273 627600) or can be downloaded from the OPRA website: www.opra.gov.uk.