EU plans to harmonise the Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision directive with Solvency II capital requirements could dent the government's infrastructure ambitions, a Treasury minister says.

Trustees must go beyond monthly investment sub-committee meetings and put more decision-making structures in place to improve governance standards, delegates at the Professional Pensions investment conference heard.

The Treasury has brushed off criticism that monetary policy is damaging schemes by claiming quantitative easing has boosted scheme fund values and reduced investment risk.

Fund management and administration charges levelled on the Local Government Pension Scheme surged to a record high of £437m last year despite just a £124m increase in investment income, government statistics show.

Strathclyde Pension Fund has sold its 35% minority interest stake in the Junction Thurrock Unit Trust to Capital & Regional's Junction Fund.

More than one-third of private sector employers support the government's view on guaranteed minimum pensions requirements, a JLT Benefit Solutions study shows.

Daily Mail and General Trust investment head Mike Weston talks to Michael Bow about the illiquidity risk premium, risk triggers and infrastructure investing

The High Court has ruled against a consortium of 38 Lehman Brothers subsidiary companies fighting to be excluded from financial support directions by The Pensions Regulator.

Mercer Employee Benefits is to defend itself at the High Court later this year after a hotel group filed a £250,000 claim for breach of contract.

The Daily Mail and General Trust pension scheme is setting up its first in-house de-risking group - the Triggered Asset Switch Committee - in a bid to make speedier investment decisions and improve its funding ratio.