FOI reference - FOI-184
Date - 4 November 2023
Request
I would like to know how many whistleblowing cases have been considered by The Pensions Regulator (TPR) in the last three years and the range of sanctions that have been imposed on:
- the affected pension schemes
- the trustees
Response
I can confirm that we hold this information. However, it is exempt from disclosure under section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA). This is because the information is accessible to you, as it is already in the public domain.
Our website contains a dedicated section that provides published information in relation to whistleblower disclosures where you will find the information you are requesting for years 2022 to 2023. For prior years, there is a section titled ‘Older whistleblowing disclosures’ at the bottom of the page where you can access the information from 2019 onwards. Please note that last year we reported about TPR undertaking a comprehensive assessment of its whistleblowing reporting policy. As a result of this review a new policy was implemented, precisely outlining the definition of a 'whistleblower' from TPR’s perspective. Consequently, there has been a reduction in the number of reports which met the specified criteria. We do, however continue to receive a large volume of reports from savers and our regulated community highlighting concerns in relation to breaches of pension regulations.
Duty to provide advice and guidance
If you wish to make a whistleblower report following reviewing our published data, or seek further information related to whistleblowing, our organisation has a dedicated whistleblower department that is committed to addressing such matters. Any reports can be made anonymously. You can contact us through the following channels.
Online: Whistleblowing about your workplace pension
Telephone: 0345 600 7060
Address:
The Information Team
The Pensions Regulator
Telecom House
125-135 Preston Road
Brighton
BN1 6AF
We understand that when you supply information to us, it may have an effect on your relationship with the person or organisation that you are reporting, particularly if this is your employer. It is useful for us to have your contact details in case we need to ask you for more information, but you can choose to be anonymous when reporting concerns to us. If you do, we will treat your information as sensitive and will seek to protect your identity. We will not disclose it except when lawfully required to do so or where, after careful consideration, we decide it is essential to do so in the course of an investigation or to take regulatory action. This would only happen in very limited and exceptional cases. Where we consider that such disclosure may be necessary, we will usually consult you beforehand.
In some situations, when you supply us with information, it may be regarded as whistleblowing. In these circumstances, you may have legal protection as a whistleblower if you raise a legitimate concern in good faith about wrongdoing. Read more on whistleblowing for employees on GOV.UK.