Contributors to this week's Pensions Buzz were concerned the overhauled investment strategy at the Environment Agency Pension Fund could conflict with its trustees' fiduciary duty.

Proposed changes to the Takeover Code designed to give trustees more security could be "meaningless" when applied to hostile takeovers argues a lawyer.

Macfarlane Group has introduced a pension increase exchange option for active and deferred members after reducing pensioner liabilities by 35% through a similar exercise.

A record £18.5bn worth of liability hedging transactions were completed in the second quarter of 2012 according to research from F&C.

Labour front benchers have urged the government to work with the opposition, business and trade unions to protect British interests from planned European regulation of the pensions and insurance industries.

Joanna Matthews has been appointed chairman of the Royal Mail Pension Trustees, replacing Jane Newell, who will step down in September after eight years in the role.

Majority back calls for the Pension Protection Fund levy formula to be adapted to limit next year's rise.

The code of conduct for incentivised transfer exercises published this summer will change the "shape and methodology" of some offers but will not end the practice, says JLT Pension Capital Strategies.

The industry has thrown its weight behind a voluntary code of conduct to address bad practice among third party administration providers.

A slim majority of respondents defend the Pension Protection Fund against allegations it is failing to protect schemes.