TPR undertaking internal review after Norton Motorcycles case

Jonathan Stapleton
clock • 1 min read

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) chief executive Charles Counsell has written to Work and Pensions Committee (WPC) chairman Stephen Timms responding to questions over how the watchdog handled issues around the Norton Motorcycles pension schemes.

The comes after the WPC sent TPR a letter following The Pensions Ombudsman's decision to uphold complaints relating to the Norton Motorcycles pension schemes. 

Counsell said TPR was, as a result of the issues raised, undertaking an internal review to identify if there are lessons to be learned in how it addresses conflicts of interest.

He noted however that, while the regulator does not have the resources to review every small scheme, it does intend to do more work in the future looking at the governance issues around smaller pension schemes.

Responding to the letter, Timms said: "TPR's own research has shown the governance standards of small pension schemes to be consistently lower than their larger counterparts. Setting up small schemes has provided opportunities to scammers in the past and we will be looking at this in more detail in our upcoming inquiry." 

The WPC announced it would investigate pension scams in July as the first strand of a three-part inquiry into the impact of the pension freedoms and the protection of pension savers.

More on Law and Regulation

'Sludge practices' and 'misuse' of anti-scam rules blamed for transfer delays

'Sludge practices' and 'misuse' of anti-scam rules blamed for transfer delays

Coalition of platform providers calls for fundamental reform of the system

Jonathan Stapleton
clock 13 March 2026 • 3 min read
Lords move to increase salary sacrifice cap to £5,000 'a pragmatic step'

Lords move to increase salary sacrifice cap to £5,000 'a pragmatic step'

Amendments will reduce or remove the impact of changes to salary sacrifice for most savers

Jonathan Stapleton
clock 12 March 2026 • 4 min read
SPP highlights 'practical challenges' with FCA's ESG rating proposals

SPP highlights 'practical challenges' with FCA's ESG rating proposals

Body says implementation ‘must be practical’ and that sharper definitions are needed

Jonathan Stapleton
clock 12 March 2026 • 1 min read
Trustpilot