Catalogue description Records of the Occupational Pensions Board

The Occupational Pensions Board (OPB) was set up by the Social Security Act 1973 as an independent statutory body to administer arrangements under this Act as they affect the review and certification of occupational pensions schemes. The functions of the OPB were modified in the Social Security Pensions Act 1975, and subsequently amended by the Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1977 and the Social Security Acts of 1979 and 1980. In addition to dealing with specific questions and draft regulations referred to the OPB by the Secretary of State for Social Security, it was required to provide advice on a number of pensions issues, including statutory obligations of occupational pension schemes relating to preservation of benefits, equal membership access for men and women, and contracting-out from the earnings-related part of the state pension scheme.

Following the Social Security Act 1990, the OPB was appointed as Registrar of Occupational and Personal Pensions Schemes. Under the same legislation, it was empowered to make grants to approved bodies, and it exercised this function by funding the operation of the Occupational Pensions Advisory Service.

The Pensions Act 1995 abolished the OPB and replaced it in April 1997 with the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority.