The Pension Schemes Registry, based at Newcastle upon Tyne, has been managed by Opra since 1997. The Registry holds details of almost all occupational and personal pension schemes and has been responsible for collecting the General Levy and the Compensation Levy. Any member, beneficiary or contingent beneficiary or their representative has been entitled to apply in writing for information about their benefits. Trustees may ask once a year for an extract of information held about their scheme. The service has been free.

From 31 March 2005 the Pension Schemes Registry will cease to exist. As happened when the OPB was abolished in 1997, its functions will be split. The pension tracing function will be carried out by DWP's Pension Tracing Service, while the levy collection function will be managed in Brighton by The Pensions Regulator.

The DWP’s Pension Tracing Service can be contacted as follows:

Pension Tracing Service
The Pension Service
Whitley Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE98 1BA

0845 6002 537

www.thepensionservice.gov.uk

At the moment no further details are available about how this service will work.

The Pensions Regulator can be contacted from 6 April at:

Napier House
Trafalgar Place
Brighton
BN1 4DW

0870 606 3636

Email: customersupport@thepensionsregulator.gov.uk