pensions

Pension scheme deficts for the top 350 UK companies have increased by almost a quarter in 2005, claims research by Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

Scottish Life has a property weighting in its Balanced Managed Pension Fund, which is 12 times the sector average thanks to its "Managed Strategies" initiative.

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs have published the section of the Registered Pensions Schemes Manual (RPSM), which covers employer contributions to pension plans after A-Day.

THIS MORNING'S papers are full of reports on Arcadia's decision that its 3,600 members of staff must work longer and pay more if they want to keep their current final salary pension scheme.

Laurie Edmans, Aegon UK's director of corporate development, has received a CBE for services to pensions reform in the New Year's Honours List.

Many advisers believe although the recommendations from the Turner report may increase interest in retirement planning, the proposals don't go far enough, claims research from Fidelity International.

THE IGNORANCE of some company pension fund trustees poses a serious risk to the UK's troubled retirement benefits system, according to Sir Bryan Nicholson, former head of the corporate governance regulator, reports the Financial Times .

The Equal Opportunities Commission has today called for 30 year old sex discrimination laws to be updated claiming the current laws have reached the limit of their usefulness.

Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trade Unions Congress (TUC) has said today progress on pensions has gone backwards accusing employers of continuing to walk away from their responsibilities.

TONY BLAIR is preparing for a big struggle with the Chancellor over measures to avert a pensions crisis, reports the Financial Times.