FOI-02732

Thank you for your request for information about the following: 

##Request 

[In response to FOI-02633 - https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02633] 

‘Please provide me with a copy of the NHS Pensions' due diligence guidelines that they would have followed prior to a QROPS transfer? 

What information was available for ex-staff working abroad about how they could access their pension and draw on it from another country? 

Please supply me with all pension scam warnings available in 2013/2014 

What date did the website commence and how did the NHS inform ex employees about it's existance? 

I am asking what date the NHS website began to interact with pension members and how you informed those members no longer in your employment’ 

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 2 April 2025.  

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). 

##Our response 

##Question 1 - Please provide me with a copy of the NHS Pensions' due diligence guidelines that they would have followed prior to a QROPS transfer 

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHSBSA. 

The NHSBSA do not hold any due diligence guidance documents in relation to prior QROPS transfers. Due diligence was carried out in several ways, but this is not recorded in a guidance document. 

The NHSBSA routinely makes information available for members including:  

The leaving early and transferring out guide: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/member-hub/leaving-or-taking-break-scheme

The transfer out guide and application pack: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/member-hub/leaving-or-taking-break-scheme

These publications are available on our website and include information to make applicants aware of potential risks associated with transferring benefits out of the Scheme and how they might seek independent advice, if needed. The NHSBSA is not permitted to provide financial advice.  

The NHSBSA also has procedures in place to ensure transfer applicants are prompted to read the relevant guidance. The information NHSBSA makes available informs applicants that they can seek further information from organisations such as the Financial Conduct Authority, the Pensions Regulator and the Pensions Advisory Service. It also recommends that applicants consider taking financial advice before making any decision about a transfer of benefits. Such guidance is routinely included in our CETV statements of entitlement. The transfer election forms (declaration) also prompt members to read the guidance and to declare that they have done this. 

In terms of due diligence for transfers overseas, UK transferring schemes relied primarily upon whether the receiving scheme was recognised by HMRC as a QROPS. 

We are not aware of anything within the industry / regulatory guidance prior to 2013 that obliged a transferring scheme to routinely investigate a receiving arrangement that was currently recognised by HMRC as a QROPS. 

When an application reached payment stage, NHSBSA made appropriate checks to verify that relevant overseas schemes continued to be included on HMRC’s QROPS list. 

##Question 2 - What information was available for ex-staff working abroad about how they could access their pension and draw on it from another country? 

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHSBSA. 

Please be advised that we have interpreted reference of ‘ex staff’ to mean NHS Pension members who are no longer contributing to the NHS Pension scheme. 

The NHSBSA did not proactively contact individual NHS Pension Scheme members who were no longer contributing to the NHS Pension Scheme regarding QROPS. However, our website was updated regularly. 

The National Archives website holds historic versions of the NHS Pensions and NHSBSA websites:  

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17294 

https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/timeline/http://www.nhspa.gov.uk/ 

##Question 3 - Please supply me with all pension scam warnings available in 2013/2014 

A copy of the Pension liberation fraud transfer out inset is attached. 

##Question 4 - What date did the website commence and how did the NHS inform ex-employees about its existence? 

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHSBSA. 

Please be advised that the National Archives website holds historic versions of the NHS Pensions and NHSBSA websites: 

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17294 

https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/timeline/http://www.nhspa.gov.uk/ 

##Question 5 - I am asking what date the NHS website began to interact with pension members and how you informed those members no longer in your employment. 

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHSBSA. 

However, please note that a link to the NHS Pension Scheme website will have been included within the address information on correspondence sent by NHS Pensions as per standard process. 

Please be advised that the National Archives website holds historic versions of the NHS Pensions and NHSBSA websites:  

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17294 

https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/timeline/http://www.nhspa.gov.uk/ 

##Data Queries 

Please contact <a href=mailto:foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk>foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk</a>   ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data. 

##Reusing the data and copyright 

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact <a href=mailto:communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk>communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk</a>. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented. 

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at: 

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/  

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2025”. Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence. 

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information. 

Tags: NHS Pension Scheme, QROPS
Organization: Freedom of Information Disclosure Log