Thank you for your request for information about the following:

Request

1. Please supply me with a complete copy of the full direction of the secretary of state giving the CQC access to the NHS pension scheme.

2. I appreciate that the list of employers which like the CQC have access to the NHS pension scheme can change regularly. However the NHSBSA clearly cannot do its job without knowing who those employers are on a day-to-day basis. So l will confine my request to focus on today Monday 7 July 2025. Please supply me with a complete list of all employers with access to the NHS pension scheme as at 7 July 2025.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 7 July 2025.

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

Our response

Question one: Please supply me with a complete copy of the full direction of the secretary of state giving the CQC access to the NHS pension scheme.

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested, and a copy of the information is attached.

Please read the below notes to ensure correct understanding of the information.

The CQC was granted A2 status for the NHS Pension Scheme effective from 10 September 2008, making the NHS Pension Scheme their default pension scheme. A2 status allows open access, similar to what an NHS trust would possess. During the auto-enrolment phase from 2012 to 2018, all CQC employees should have been automatically enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme. Any staff members who preferred not to participate in the scheme were required to complete the SD502 form.

The NHSBSA holds the Care Quality Commission Direction legal document (EA4471), which formally grants EA status within the NHS Pensions scheme.

Question two: I appreciate that the list of employers which like the CQC have access to the NHS pension scheme can change regularly. However the NHSBSA clearly cannot do its job without knowing who those employers are on a day-to-day basis. So l will confine my request to focus on today Monday 7 July 2025. Please supply me with a complete list of all employers with access to the NHS pension scheme as at 7 July 2025.

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested, and a copy of the information is attached.

Data Queries

Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data.

Reusing the data and copyright

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2025”. Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.