Top 10 stories of 2009: Numbers 6-10

The list of the top five stories can be viewed here.

6. Laptop theft sees The Pensions Trust lose data on 109,000 members

May 28
Emma Dunkley

A laptop containing the unencrypted personal data of 109,000 Pensions Trust members has been stolen from software provider NorthgateArinso.

The laptop contained unencrypted, but password protected, information about individuals who were members of six of The Pensions Trust's schemes - and held data including name, address, date of birth, national insurance numbers, name of employer, salary details and information on nominees.

For those in receipt of a pension, the data also included bank account details.

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7. Trivial commutation regulations issued

May 8
Jenna Towler

Regulations which relax the trivial commutation regime have finally been issued after their original announcement in the 2008 Budget.

In March HM Revenue & Customs told law firm Allen & Overy the delayed Registered Pension Schemes (Authorised Payments) Regulations would not come out until the autumn but they have been issued today.

The regulations will allow occupational pension schemes to pay small pension pots entirely as a lump sum, without taking into account other pension benefits which an individual may have.

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8. European Court of Justice rules in Heyday case

March 5
Jenna Towler

Forced retirement at 65 can be justified under European law only if it is a "proportionate" means of achieving a legitimate employment policy, European judges have ruled.

The European Court of Justice ruled in the long running Heyday test case today. The case was started by Age Concern backed group Heyday in 2006 when it challenged mandatory retirement ages.

The ECJ ruled national legislation may generally allow age discrimination of this kind if it is a proportionate means to achieve a legitimate social policy objective related to employment policy, the labour market or vocational training.

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9. High Court: Trustees cannot rely on PPF safety net when taking decisions

November 10
Jenna Towler

The High Court has ruled trustees cannot rely on the safety net afforded by the Pension Protection Fund when taking decisions.

Lawyers said the case - Independent Trustee Services Limited v Hope and Others - had significant public policy implications and would affect the way in which trustees make decisions.

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10. PBR: Public sector pensions to be capped

December 9
Tom Selby

Public sector pensions will be capped as part of government plans to pay-off the UK's burgeoning budget deficit.

Chancellor Alistair Darling admitted the measure was part of a host of "difficult but essential choices" the government would take in the aftermath of the recession.

These include increasing contributions for public sector workers earning more than £100,000.

He said: "Public pensions need to be broadly in line with those offered in the private sector.

"So by 2012 contributions by the state to public service pensions for teachers, local government, NHS and the civil service will be capped - saving around £1bn a year."

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The top 10 pensions stories of 2009: Numbers 1-5