Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of regulations on pensions funds maladministration.

The Pensions Ombudsman and their Deputy have legal powers to consider complaints of maladministration and disputes of a fact or law concerning personal and occupational pension schemes. Decisions made by the Ombudsman and their Deputy are legally binding and are covered in the Pension Schemes Act 1993, Part X.

The power to decide these matters rests with the Pensions Ombudsman and their Deputy who are appointed by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Only an Ombudsman can make a final and binding decisions on a case. However, they can delegate any other responsibilities to other people in their organisation.