Recommendation 16

The Pensions Ombudsman may also be a suitable body to investigate the administration and management of pension schemes, as it is the expert in government for investigating pensions complaints.32 However, it has no remit over the role of GAD in providing information to scheme members. The Pensions Ombudsman could in theory have examined UKAEA as the outgoing employer, but not AEAT itself as it no longer existed. However, it decided that even if it did investigate information provided by UKAEA, the Limitation Act 1980 means it would not be able to award any remedy as more 25 Qq 47–48 26 C&AG’s Report, para 3.8 27 C&AG’s Report, para 16 28 Qq 8–9 29 Qq 50, 56; C&AG’s Report, para 3.9 30 C&AG’s Report, para 3.10 31 Qq 41–45 32 Qq 9, 74 12 AEA Technology Pension Case than 15 years had passed between the original transfer of pension benefits and when the complaints were made.33 Government protocols for retaining data may also often prevent relevant information being maintained for long enough to be reviewed in cases involving pensions. Pensions are long-term financial products, and problems can take many years to become apparent.34 DWP told us that the Pensions Ombudsman is reviewed on a regular basis, and that its next review later this year may be a good opportunity to look at the role of the ombudsman.35 Government support for complex financial decisions