The Pensions Dashboards Programme (PDP) has published updated reporting standards, an important step towards the implementation of pensions dashboards. These updated standards outline the requirements for pension providers, schemes, and dashboard providers regarding data generation, recording, and reporting. The updates include security protection, performance tracking, and regulatory compliance monitoring. Additionally, the PDP has made amendments to data standards and the code of connection, while also updating Find and View JSON schemas and releasing a view data model. These mandatory standards, set by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) through the PDP, are part of the ongoing effort to connect the wider pensions industry to the dashboard ecosystem by 2025, with the aim of enhancing retirement planning and financial wellbeing for individuals.

The Pensions Dashboards Programme (PDP) has updated its draft reporting standards to version 2.3, setting out technical requirements for pension providers and schemes to submit daily data to the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) through application programming interfaces (APIs). The intended implementation deadline is 1 March 2027, subject to approval by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.

The Pensions Dashboards Programme (PDP) has published guidance detailing the framework for voluntary connection to the pensions dashboards ecosystem. The guidance establishes eligibility criteria for schemes with 1-100 active members to apply for voluntary connection, requiring UK registration and administration. Upon connection, schemes will be subject to the same legal obligations as mandatory participants, with the Pensions Regulator overseeing compliance. However, the process for voluntary connection application is currently in development and is set to be updated based on consultation with industry.  The PDP is therefore seeking industry feedback on voluntary connection to help inform the application process and the timeline for voluntary connections. The PDP asks industry to share their thoughts and interest in connecting voluntarily by reading the guidance and completing the feedback form. The formal launch date of the application process for voluntary connection is set to be informed following industry engagement.

Law360: The number of deals involving European insurance businesses rose by 30% last year, fuelled by an increased role of private equity financing in the sector, a consultancy said 25 March 2024.

This Practice Note tracks enforcement action taken by the Information Commission’s Office (ICO) for breaches of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (PECR 2003), SI 2003/2426. This includes breaches of rules regarding direct marketing under PECR 2003, SI 2003/2426, regs 21–24. This tracker contains information about monetary penalties and enforcement notices issued to individuals or organisations. For more detailed information on PECR 2003, see Practice Note: The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR 2003). Background In the UK, ePrivacy law (ie personal data in the context of electronic communications) is provided for largely through PECR 2003, SI 2003/2426, which implemented Directive 2002/58/EC (the ePrivacy Directive) at a time when the UK was part of the EU. The main objective of the legislation is to ensure that a provider of public electronic communications services takes appropriate technical and organisational measures to safeguard the confidentiality, security and privacy of that service and that subscribers are protected from certain risks and abuses. PECR 2003 was not revoked when the UK left the EU

Commercial analysis: The Data (Use and Access) Act (DUAA 2025) that received Royal Assent in June 2025 is bringing several changes to the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (PECR 2003), SI 2003/2426, in relation to fines, cookies, and breach notification timeframes, as well as the addition of the definition of direct marketing brought over from DPA 2018. Oliver Yaros and Ana Hadnes Bruder, partners, Reece Randall, Ellen Hepworth, Alasdair Maher and Katie Steval, associates, and Laura Taylor, trainee, of Mayer Brown International LLP, review these changes.

Information Law analysis: In this full-merits review of a monetary penalty notice (MPN), the First-Tier Tribunal (FTT) considered an appeal by Monetise Media Ltd (MML) against the Commissioner's decision to levy a £125,000 MPN in response to a contravention of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (PECR). The FTT substituted a lower penalty of £85,000, having found that (i) MML 'instigated' the sending of unsolicited marketing messages by third-party affiliates; (ii) MML did so negligently, but not deliberately; and (iii) the Commissioner had erred in the MPN by using too high a starting point and giving excess weight to aggravating factors. Written by Edward Rees, associate at Stephenson Harwood LLP.

Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) has announced that it will no longer process, redact and publish planning application plans and associated documents for planning appeals where these are already publicly accessible on local planning authority online planning registers. The change is intended to streamline the appeals process and make better use of resources. PEDW will continue to publish relevant appeal documents on its Casework Portal, and appointed Planning Inspectors will retain full access to all documents submitted as part of an appeal.

Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) has issued a service update regarding Development of National Significance (DNS) applications. PEDW reports increased DNS application volumes affecting standard four to six week processing times. Applications will now only proceed when inspector resources become available. PEDW aims to provide estimated acceptance dates once applications are validated and is recruiting new inspectors to address capacity constraints. Applicants are asked to provide submission updates and follow documentation guidelines to aid processing.

Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) has published guidance setting out the duties of the Welsh Ministers as the competent authority when significant infrastructure projects may affect protected European sites or require Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The Ministers must undertake an Appropriate Assessment (AA) where a plan or project is likely to have a significant effect on a European site, and consent may only be granted if adverse effects on site integrity are ruled out or, failing that, if no alternatives exist, Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest (IROPI) are demonstrated, and compensatory measures are secured. Applicants must engage early with Natural Resources Wales (NRW), agree methods and baseline information, and submit either a No Significant Effects Report (NSER) or a Likely Significant Effects Report (LSER). HRA screening determines whether likely significant effects arise; if so, AA considers mitigation and any residual impacts, and further assessment of alternatives and IROPI is required where adverse effects remain.

Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) has published guidance explaining how applicants for a significant infrastructure project must consult and publicise their proposals before applying for an Infrastructure Consenting Order, requiring mandatory pre-application consultation to inform communities, land interests and public bodies and to gather views at an early stage. The guidance sets out obligations to make draft application documents publicly available locally and online, including draft orders, explanatory material, plans, community benefit details and any draft Environmental Statement (ES), to notify a prescribed range of consultees such as neighbouring landowners, planning authorities, statutory bodies, elected representatives and others affected, with additional requirements for development in the Welsh Marine Area, and to meet minimum publicity standards through site notices, press notices and at least one public engagement event. It also explains specific procedures where an ES or compulsory acquisition is proposed, including further consultation and identification of land interests, and requires applicants to allow at least 42 days for responses and to submit a pre-application consultation report summarising the consultation undertaken, the feedback received and how it has informed the final application.

Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) has published guidance setting out model conditions for developments of national significance (DNS) planning applications, with a particular focus on renewable energy generation projects. The document provides model conditions across 11 key areas, such as site decommissioning, design, ecology, highway safety and amenity. PEDW notes that each condition must meet six tests: it must be necessary, relevant to planning, relevant to the development to be permitted, enforceable, precise, and reasonable.