The Pensions Minister involved in sorting Gavin’s salary sacrifice mix-up.

Posted on April 27, 2026 by henry tapper

There is more to Gavin H’s story; here is the latest episode.

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2 Responses to The Pensions Minister involved in sorting Gavin’s salary sacrifice mix-up.

  1. derekscott1953 says:
    April 27, 2026 at 7.32

    The post on LinkedIn is:

    Pensions Minister Torsten Bell has written to my local MP Jon Pearce, following my investigations which led to the uncovering of up to eight years of tax relief missing from our Aviva-provided workplace pension scheme – due to an apparent salary sacrifice mix-up. Mr Bell said he sympathises with my “concerns about how such issues can persist undetected for a significant period, and the effect this can have on members.”

    The Minister said the role of HM Revenue & Customs is to administer and safeguard the pension tax relief system with the information it receives. He added: “Matters concerning the regulatory compliance and operation of occupational pension schemes fall within the remit of The Pensions Regulator (TPR), so those issues continue to be considered there. HMRC will, however, consider any tax matters arising from the information they have available.”

    However, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) also has a responsibility because Aviva placed us in a Group Personal Pension, which the FCA authorizes and which an Independent Governance Committee (IGC) overseen by HM Treasury governs.

    In December last year, the IGC promised a “full response” from Independent Chair Colin Richardson FIA AMAPPT, which I am still awaiting. Emma Douglas, newly-appointed Chair of The Pensions Regulator, and Aviva’s former Director of the Workplace Pensions business, is a Firm-appointed member of the IGC.

    The IGC wrote:

    Hello Gavin, and thank you for contacting the Aviva IGC.
     
    I have made Colin and the Committee members aware of your concerns, and we will be taking them forward with Aviva. Colin will provide a full response once our enquiries have been completed.
     
    Kind regards
    Stu
     
    Stu Gash
    Pension Governance Manager
    Workplace Savings and Retirement
    http://www.aviva.com

    Mr Gash has since retired, but I believe Colin Richardson remains in post.

    When may I expect your “full response”, Mr Richardson?

    http://www.aviva.co.uk/retirement/workplace-pension/independent-governance-committee/

    Reply
  2. derekscott1953 says:
    April 27, 2026 at 7.32

    The post over on LinkedIn is:

    Pensions Minister Torsten Bell has written to my local MP Jon Pearce, following my investigations which led to the uncovering of up to eight years of tax relief missing from our Aviva-provided workplace pension scheme – due to an apparent salary sacrifice mix-up. Mr Bell said he sympathises with my “concerns about how such issues can persist undetected for a significant period, and the effect this can have on members.”

    The Minister said the role of HM Revenue & Customs is to administer and safeguard the pension tax relief system with the information it receives. He added: “Matters concerning the regulatory compliance and operation of occupational pension schemes fall within the remit of The Pensions Regulator (TPR), so those issues continue to be considered there. HMRC will, however, consider any tax matters arising from the information they have available.”

    However, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) also has a responsibility because Aviva placed us in a Group Personal Pension, which the FCA authorizes and which an Independent Governance Committee (IGC) overseen by HM Treasury governs.

    In December last year, the IGC promised a “full response” from Independent Chair Colin Richardson FIA AMAPPT, which I am still awaiting. Emma Douglas, newly-appointed Chair of The Pensions Regulator, and Aviva’s former Director of the Workplace Pensions business, is a Firm-appointed member of the IGC.

    The IGC wrote:

    Hello Gavin, and thank you for contacting the Aviva IGC.
     
    I have made Colin and the Committee members aware of your concerns, and we will be taking them forward with Aviva. Colin will provide a full response once our enquiries have been completed.
     
    Kind regards
    Stu
     
    Stu Gash
    Pension Governance Manager
    Workplace Savings and Retirement

    Mr Gash has since retired, but I believe Colin Richardson remains in post.

    When may I expect your “full response”, Mr Richardson?

    Reply

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