PDP’s Design Standards consultation - Which? response

We welcome the PDP’s proposed design standards for qualifying pensions dashboards services (QPDS). Pensions dashboards have the potential to bring real benefits for pension savers. The way in which pension information, value data and communications is presented on dashboards will be critical to furthering individuals’ understanding of their pensions, enabling consumers to confidently and positively engage with the information presented to them. We therefore welcome the PDP’s design standards, which alongside the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) proposed regulatory framework for pensions dashboard service (PDS) firms, will require QPDS to provide dashboard services that are engaging, accessible and inclusive, whilst also delivering strong, consistent levels of consumer protections for all users. 

Considering that the government first committed to introducing a pensions dashboard by 2019, overall progress in delivering dashboard services to consumers has been extremely slow, and consumers could now expect to access dashboard services by late 2024 at the earliest. In order to maintain sufficient pace in progressing with dashboards - especially considering that the connection of pension providers and schemes to the PDP ecosystem is due to begin in just under two months - the design standards must be issued by this summer as planned. This would enable QPDS to begin developing innovative dashboard services that are compliant with standards and regulations.