Commentary on Sections Part 2 – Collective Benefits Section 9: Duty to set targets for collective benefits
Section 9 provides that regulations may require that trustees or managers of pension schemes offering collective benefits set targets in relation to the rate or amount of those benefits.  In particular, regulations can be made about the way that targets are expressed, recorded and published.  The intention is that members of a scheme with collective benefits should be provided with a reasonable estimate of the benefits that they can expect to receive from the scheme; in the absence of a well defined pot over which the individual has clear ownership, the target is a way of illustrating for the member what they might receive.  Regulations may also require trustees or managers to set initial targets at such a level that the probability of meeting the target will fall within a range specified in regulations and for this to be certified by an actuary.  The setting of targets is to ensure that schemes providing collective benefits operate in a transparent manner and provide some assurance to members in relation to those benefits.
Section 9(3) provides that regulations may, in particular, make provision for matters to which the actuary should have regard, and may require trustees or managers to provide the actuarial certificate to a specified person.  Regulations may also make provision about the content of the actuarial certificate and require the trustees or managers to obtain the certificate from an actuary who has certain qualifications or meets other specified requirements.