The UK pensions regulator links data quality, clear responsibilities and board oversight with pension reform and better decisions for scheme members.
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) of the United Kingdom has urged pension schemes to treat data as a strategic asset in a speech published on 9 November 2026. Richard Knox, its Executive Director of Strategy, Policy and Analysis, addressed the Pensions Expert Annual Conference. He linked reliable data with governance, decision-making and service delivery.
Trustees, he said, need to understand data weaknesses and assign responsibility for improvements.
Knox reported that more than 75 million pension records had been connected to pensions dashboards by the end of October, but emphasised that schemes still need accurate, current information, reliable matching processes and tested operational arrangements. He also stressed that boards should receive assurance that identified data problems are being addressed.
The speech connected data preparation with forthcoming value-for-money assessments. Knox said these assessments would require judgement grounded in objective information. TPR will also examine the evidence behind trustees’ decisions. Its oversight will consider intended outcomes and risks, alongside whether processes were followed.
Pension decisions affect members’ retirement incomes, making dependable information central to effective oversight. Knox’s emphasis on ownership and board assurance makes data improvement a governance responsibility. His remarks connect digital services with continuing attention to information quality. They also place evidence at the centre of regulatory scrutiny.
Abraham Kuuku Sam is the Head of AI Made in Africa and a Data Policy Advisor at the GIZ African Union Office. He specialises in artificial intelligence, data governance, digital public infrastructure, digital policy, and data infrastructure.
