Transparency data

SAB meeting minutes: 27 January 2026

Updated 25 June 2026

Applies to England and Wales

46th Meeting, 27 January 2026, 10:30pm to 14:30pm

Members present: - Check and amend

Independent Chair

Gaon Hart

Secretariat 

Chris Moore

Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW)

Paul Turpin 

John Partington

Melanie Warnes

Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA)

Dan Murphy

Chief Police Officers’ Staff Association (CPOSA)

Shabir Hussain

Gareth Wilson

Andy Prophet

National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC)

Philip Wells

Vickie lambert

Claire Neale

Kevin Courtney

Yemoja Rowe

Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC)

Andrew Tremayne

Home Office (HO) 

Tom Appleyard

Simon Primmer 

Stephanie McCabe

Sara Alderman

Usamah Musa

Superintendent’s Association of Northern Ireland (SANI)

Michael Hanna

National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO)

Alan Lees

Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS)

Stewart Carle

Department of Justice, Northern Ireland (DoJNI)

Victoria McClenaghan

Scottish Police Federation (SPF)

David Kennedy

First Actuarial

Craig Moran

James Allen

Government Actuary Department (GAD)

Michael Scanlon 

Greg Donaldson

Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) 

Finn Mackenzie

Welcome and Apologies

1. The Chair welcomed members to the quarterly SAB meeting hosted by the Home Office.

Minutes of 14 October 2025

2. The minutes of the previous quarterly meeting was agreed. 

Action Point 1: PABEW Secretariat to publish finalised minutes of 14 October 2025 on webpage.

Action Log (14 October 2025)

The Chair went through the action log of 14 October 2025, which has been updated in the light of discussion. Key points of all the actions discussed were: 

Action Point 2: HO to review and, where appropriate, update 2015 Scheme member guidance on deferring benefits after age 55.

3. Simon requested the action is reopened as he will be providing a further update.

Action Point 3: Michael Scanlon (GAD) to analyse valuation data and share findings by March 2026.

4. The Chair kept it open noting the update was expected in March.

Action Point 4: Members to share any implementation issues or user concerns from the dashboard rollout at the next meeting. 

5. The Chair said he and Claire Neale (NPCC) had completed a round of meetings with chairs on the local boards and passed that message out and invited anyone who does find challenges or thoughts on what could be improved to respond to both himself and Claire Neale (NPCC).

Action point 6: Tom Appleyard (HO) to liaise with the LGPS/Firefighters’ Scheme team and circulate details of that funding model (incl. cost per member and source) for SAB consideration

6. Claire Neale (NPCC) has circulated a paper with the agenda with details. The Chair asked Tom to find further details so SAB can understand what financial options were available. The action remains open.

Action Point 7: Chair to raise with HO the feasibility of funding independent legal/actuarial advice for SAB

7. The Chair noted he had discussed with the Home Office, but the government has no money and closed the action.

Action Point 8: All member organisations to propose potential funding models (e.g., levy/shared contributions/employer-funded) ahead of the next meeting.

8. The Chair noted it would be discussed later in the agenda and closed the action

Action Point 10: Members to consider introducing a SAB risk register and discuss at the next meeting, alongside alignment of organisational and HO work plans.

9. The Chair said he could not see what value it would provide to SAB but left it open for one more meeting.

Action Point 13: Simon Primmer (HO) to explore extending repayment timeframes and report back to the next meeting.

10. Simon Primmer (HO) agreed with SAB’s point there should be a review and would talk more on what might occur in the HO presentation. The chair said he would close the action as it was on HO radar.

Action Point 14: Chair to write to HO highlighting the CRA anomaly for inspecting ranks and request it be noted for future review.

11. The Chair noted that AP14 had not progressed pending wider discussion on the SAB’s approach to addressing technical issues, including reference to views shared by the PRRB Chair on the timing and focus of SAB input.

12. Members agreed that detailed technical matters would benefit from structured consideration. The Chair proposed establishing a technical working group, initially on a pilot basis, to consider the CRA anomaly. No objections were raised.

NEW Action Point 2: A technical working group to be established to consider the CRA anomaly, initially as a pilot, and to report back to the next SAB meeting. Members interested in participating to notify the Secretariat, which will coordinate arrangements and explore Home Office participation.

Action Point 15: Chair to include Regulation 36 consultation progress as a standing agenda item for the next SAB meeting

13. The Chair noted regulation 36 was on the agenda and closed the action.

Request to add a local Board Chair to SAB as observer

14. The Chair reported on recent engagement with local pension boards and highlighted the need for closer alignment and improved two-way communication between the SAB and local boards.

15. The Chair proposed that SAB agendas and minutes be shared with local pension boards to improve visibility and enable issues to be raised. The Chair also proposed inviting local board chairs to attend SAB meetings on a rotating observer basis. No objections were raised.

Action Point 3: SAB agendas and minutes to be shared with local pension boards, and local board chairs to be invited to attend SAB meetings on a rotating observer basis.

Regulation 36 consultation

16. The Chair noted that the Regulation 36 consultation is currently in the drafting phase and will be published as soon as practicable.

17. Simon Primmer (HO) confirmed that a prospective consultation will be taken forward first, with a retrospective consultation to follow later in the year due to its complexity. He noted that this item will develop over time.

18. The Chair proposed that Regulation 36 remain a standing agenda item. No objections were raised.

Action Point 4: Regulation 36 to be retained as a standing agenda item for future SAB meetings.

Home Office Forward Look / GAD Valuation Presentation

19. The Board received a presentation from the Home Office on its forward look and a presentation from the Government Actuary’s Department on valuation matters.

20. It was noted that the Government Actuary’s Department slides had previously been circulated and would be re-circulated to members.

21. The Chair invited members to submit any recommendations for matters they would like to be addressed by the Home Office, noting the benefit of consolidating input before further consideration.

Action Point 5: Members to submit any recommendations for matters they wish to be addressed by the Home Office to the PABEW Secretariat for collation and further discussion.

Opt outs

22. Shabir Hussain (CPOSA) outlined work to improve the collection of opt-out data, including the use of a revised questionnaire to establish a benchmark position and enable monitoring over time.

23. Claire Neale (NPCC) confirmed that data would not yet be available for assessment but stated that she would look at how opt-out data could be collected and assessed, with an outline to be brought to the April SAB meeting. The Chair agreed this approach.

24. John Partington (PFEW) highlighted higher opt-out rates among officers from ethnic minority backgrounds and the importance of understanding the underlying drivers.

25. Andrew Tremayne (APCC) emphasised the importance of understanding opt-out rates by career stage, particularly among officers early in service, and the impact of affordability on opt-out decisions.

26. The Chair emphasised the strategic purpose of the data in determining whether there is an opt-out issue requiring further consideration.

Action Point 6: Claire Neale (NPCC) to consider and outline how opt-out data could be collected and assessed, and to bring this to the April SAB meeting.

Action Point 7: Members to submit suggestions on what opt-out data would be most valuable to collect to the PABEW Secretariat.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

27. Shabir Hussain (CPOSA) raised concerns about apparent errors in recent papers and website content, suggesting these may have arisen from the use of artificial intelligence tools. He noted the importance of ensuring accuracy, particularly where technical regulations are concerned, and suggested that where AI tools are used this should be made clear.

28. The Chair asked whether members would agree that, where AI is used in preparing papers, this should be declared. No objections were raised.

The Contribution Increase

29. Dan Murphy (PSA) outlined concerns raised jointly by PFEW and PSA regarding recent contribution consultations, including transparency of evidence and assumptions, the framing of consultation questions, and how responses from representative bodies are considered. He emphasised a desire to address these issues constructively.

30. Simon Primmer (HO) welcomed the discussion and acknowledged that there were lessons from previous consultations. He expressed a willingness to engage earlier with staff associations, subject to legal and procedural constraints.

31. The Chair proposed writing to the Home Office setting out the points raised for consideration in future consultations. No objections were raised. The Chair also proposed establishing a working group to coordinate the SAB response to the current CPI consultation. No objections were raised.

Action Point 8: The Chair to write to the Home Office summarising the points raised regarding future consultation processes, and to share the draft with Shabir Hussain, Dan Murphy and Paul Turpin prior to issuing.

Action Point 9: A working group to be established to coordinate the SAB response to the CPI consultation. Members interested in participating to notify the Secretariat.

Remedy update

32. Claire Neale (NPCC) provided an update as at 31 December, confirming that 96% of RSS’s had been issued, compared to 87% at 31 March. She reported that 4,401 cases remained outstanding and that most administrators anticipate issuing approximately 75% of those by the end of March, with remaining cases potentially extending into the summer, subject in part to software delivery and system constraints.

33. Claire confirmed that full force-level data has been collected and that progress will continue to be monitored, with a further update expected at the July SAB meeting. She also outlined progress on deemed elections and confirmed that guidance and supporting materials have been issued, with emphasis on encouraging members to make positive elections.

34. Paul Turpin (PFEW) welcomed progress but raised concerns regarding support for beneficiaries and vulnerable members.

35. Andy Prophet (CPOSA) sought clarification on whether remaining cases could be targeted geographically or administratively to accelerate completion.

36. In response, Claire confirmed that force-level breakdowns are available and that progress can be targeted where required. She noted that no requests for assistance regarding assumptions had been raised by administrators to date, and that progress will continue to be reviewed as updated data becomes available.

37. The Chair welcomed the progress made, acknowledged the continued impact on affected members, and formally recorded SAB’s appreciation for the work undertaken across forces and administrators. The Chair also asked that support arrangements for beneficiaries and vulnerable members be followed up.

Action point 10: Claire Neale (NPCC) to follow up on support arrangements for beneficiaries and vulnerable members and report back if required. 

SAB funding models discussion

38. Claire Neale (NPCC) introduced a discussion paper setting out potential funding models for the SAB and outlining a range of possible options. She noted that clarity would first be needed on the remit and purpose of any budget before determining an appropriate funding mechanism.

39. John Partington (PFEW) expressed the view that the fundamental operation of the SAB should be supported by government and emphasised the need for clarity on tangible benefits before representative bodies could commit funding.

40. Gareth Wilson (CPOSA) highlighted the importance of proportionality and fairness in any funding model, particularly given differences in membership size and governance arrangements.

41. The Chair suggested that the matter be parked pending a specific use-case where funding may be required, at which point options could be revisited. There was general agreement with this approach.

Northern Ireland and Scotland Updates

42. Victoria McClenaghan (DoJNI) introduced herself as the new lead and provided a brief update, confirming that work is underway on policy development and a consultation paper relating to CPI alignment.

43. Finn Mackenzie (SPPA) introduced himself as the new lead for Scotland and provided an update on the recently concluded CPI alignment consultation, including proposed amendments for retrospective correction of the ill-health contributions issue. Advice has been submitted to Ministers for consideration. He noted that Scotland has issued approximately 88% of Remediable Service Statements and that outstanding issues are similar to those reported elsewhere.

44. The Chair welcomed the new representatives and welcomed the updates and invited further engagement where appropriate.

Any Other Business

45. Simon Primmer (HO) informed the Board of developments arising from the recent Virgin Media case concerning historical contracting-out issues. He advised that the Government intends to address the matter through provisions in the forthcoming Pensions Bill, which will rectify the position centrally and remove the need for individual police scheme managers to take separate action.