Common commencement dates

Although comparatively little Department for Work and Pensions regulation impacts on business, the Department was one of the first to adopt the Government’s policy that domestic regulation which impacts on business should commence on one of two dates (6 April and 1 October) each year.  This restricts the dates when regulatory changes can be made, enabling business to plan for new measures and to implement them effectively.

It is however sometimes necessary to introduce some legislation slightly earlier than 6 April in order to tie-in with commencement of the Pension Protection Fund’s accounting year (1 April).

Statement of forthcoming regulation that impacts on business, charities or the voluntary sector – 2009

This position will be kept under review.

Coming into force on 6 April 2009

• The Occupational, Personal and Stakeholder Pensions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2009
  These regulations enable some occupational pension schemes to reduce costs