The Government has decided not to implement the radical changes^* to the MNT Regs introduced in ss. 43 - 46 of the CSPASSA 2000, pending consideration of the Pickering Review’s recommendations on Simplification. However, the first approvals for employer’s alternative proposals (‘opt-outs’) under the current requirements will be expiring later this year. Trustees and employers will need to know what to do.

To address this problem, the DWP is consulting on draft Regs which extend the approval of existing arrangements by three years. This does not prevent employers proposing new arrangements under the existing Regs, so long as trustees agree.

The consultation paper notes that should the outcome of Pickering Review involve no change to the CSPASSA requirements, DWP may well implement them within this three-year period.

The deadline for comment is Tuesday 12 March 2002.

^*Footnote

The CSPASSA requires "all" OPSs (except those that are currently exempt) to have at least one-third member-nominated trustees. The Act also simplifies the present notoriously complicated procedures. There will be two choices for the employer: