On 21 April The Pensions Regulator (TPR) published its Corporate Plan for 2011/14, setting out how it will help employers prepare for automatic enrolment, improve standards in the defined contribution (DC) market, and address funding challenges within different segments of the defined benefit (DB) landscape. It includes a more detailed Business Plan for the year 2011/12.

There are five key themes:

• improving governance and administration
• reducing risks to DB scheme members
• reducing risks to DC scheme members
• preparing for 2012
• better regulation

The general impression is that TPR is moving from a period in which far and away its top priority has appeared to be protecting the PPF. More and more attention is being directed towards DC provision, driven no doubt by the looming challenge of auto-enrolment. One of TPR's key deliverables in 2011/12 will be details of its compliance and enforcement strategy, setting out how TPR intends to maximise compliance with the new employer duties and the principles governing how we will use our powers. A large part of the compliance function is expected to be outsourced, as permitted by The Pensions Regulator (Delegation of Powers) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/1888). While the budget for this activity is planned to rise from £1.8m in 2011/12 to £10.8m in 2014/15, total staff numbers are expected to have fallen by 12%. by the end of 2014/15.

New TPR guidance on Auto-enrolment
This month TPR has also published an introductory leaflet) for employers about the coming changes to work-based pensions, plus another one specifically outlining the steps employers need to take to comply with the 'employers' duties' (PA 2008).