Standards Governance
Process and Standards Group (PSG)
Providing detailed Governance of the evolution of Criterion Standards.
Progress this Month:
The PSG met on 3 November. Along with project and change progress review, the Group also covered revisions to its Terms of Reference that will see the PSG opened up to all Standards users, including non-Shareholder Providers. Input papers and full Minutes are available on Criterion’s website.
The Group also held a Focus Session on Long-Term Care, and agreed to closely monitor developments in this area.
Future Milestones:
Meetings for 2022:
- Tuesday, 1 February 2022 - Focus Session
- Wednesday, 2 February 2022 - Plenary Meeting
- Tuesday, 10 May 2022 - Focus Session
- Wednesday, 11 May 2022 - Plenary Meeting
- Wednesday, 17 August 202 - Prioritisation Exercise
- Tuesday, 1 November 2022 - Focus Session
- Wednesday, 2 November 2022 - Plenary Meeting
Standards Technical Architecture Group (STAG)
Providing technical Governance to Criterion Standards.
Progress this Month:
Further development of Criterion’s approach to extending technology support for Standards into JSON and OpenAPI.
Future Milestones:
The STAG will meet on 1 December 2021 to review and discuss further opportunities identified by Criterion to enhance its approach to OpenAPI and JSON technologies.
Standards Activities
Letter of Authority Standards Development
Development Project to develop Standard to support the Letter of Authority fulfilment process for DB, DC Pensions, Annuities, Protection and Investment Products.
Progress this Month:
Phase 3 – Protection:
Internal QA of the Logical Model and XML Schema and MIG Standards development has been delayed as this is not a priority and will be resumed in the New Year.
Phase 4 – LoA Request:
Further progress made with documenting Request Data Items in the BRD and questions issued to Working Group to obtain further information on LoA Request Client Authentication processes.
Future Milestones:
December: Working Group for review and further LoA Protections Standards activity suspended until Q1 2022.
December: LoA Request data items to be formally documented in a BRD and internal session to be held to discuss Client Authentication processes for LoA Requests and to consider various possible solution options.
Occupation Codes List 2020 Update Implementation
Supporting industry adoption of the revised Occupation Codes Standard used in quotations and new business processes.
Progress this Month:
A meeting was held on 30 November 2021 to further discussions on the implementation approach of both the v2.0 and v3.0 Occupation Codes Lists. The Implementation Group agreed an approach combining the use of both lists. A small number of suggested changes have been identified.
Future Milestones:
December: Implementation Group members continue to contact the Trading Partners they work with.
Criterion to update and reissue the Implementation Approach document and to raise a change request to apply agreed changes to a combined v2.0 and v3.0 list.
Group Risk Quotes
Standards Development project to develop Standards for Group Risk Quotes and Rate Review or Re-Pricing.
Progress this Month:
Criterion has been working on the specific data items to include definitions and purpose for the GLA Group Risk product type and a review spreadsheet has been developed for this.
Future Milestones:
December: Data Requirements documented and issued to Working Group for the Group Risk GLA product type for review. Meeting organised for the 21 December 2021 to discuss and review with the Working Group.
Next GR product type priority to be agreed.
BAU Change Requests
Bulk Valuation enhancements, FCA Reference number changes, Group Risk Mid Term Accounting changes and FIT Data Pattern changes.
Progress this Month:
Bulk Valuation enhancements completed and published.
No activity this month in relation to FCA Reference CRs.
Group Risk Mid-Term Accounting changes in progress.
Future Milestones:
December/January:
- Seek approval to finalise enhanced Bulk Valuation v1.1 Standard.
- Complete Group Risk Mid Term Accounting changes and seek approval to finalise Standard.
- Commence changes to FIT Data Patterns.
COVID-19 Update
The Criterion Team continues to work from home successfully in response to the current COVID-19 situation.
We are well placed to continue with our Standards commitments whilst recognising that operational constraints may make it harder for Working Group Members and other interested parties to engage with us fully. We will continue with our deliveries and keep the PSG and other interested parties updated regarding any unavoidable impact.
Deliverables/Documentation Published in November 2021
General Documentation
Regulation Radar November 2021 – published on 12 November 2021
Standards Programme Plan November 2021 – Published on 12 November 2021
2022 Criterion Tec Ltd Business Plan FINAL – Published on 12 November 2021
Equity Release – Near Miss Examples – Published on 19 November 2021
OpenAPI Specification STAG – Published on 22 November 2021
Equity Release – Change Request Report – Published on 25 November 2021
Standards
CE Bulk Valuations v1.1 Provisional – Published on 3 November 2021
