Pension scheme membership falls; Standard Life seeks bid partner; Treasury underwrites ailing bank's bailout; RBS seals success with ABN Amro nomination

IRELAND - Irish pension fund trustees have shunned alternatives as they do not trust the managers, according to participants at a recent Global Pensions Irish pensions roundtable.

SCOTTISH LIFE is expanding its pension portfolio product to include an integrated income release plan which allows members to access tax free cash while still making contributions.

CHINA - The Chinese Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MOLSS) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to study second pillar pension provision.

THE FINANCIAL Reporting Council believes the Combined Code on Corporate Governance is working well and does not need major changes.

GLOBAL - Pension funds have been warned that hesitating over alternatives could see them miss out on potential high returns.

GLOBAL - Multi-managers have admitted returns could dip because underlying managers had struggled to perform in the recent market conditions.

THE GAP between contributions into defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes is growing, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics.

Around £250bn could be transferred from occupational schemes into self-invested personal pensions in the next five years, Suffolk Life says.

Schemes could have a potential £300m VAT rebate from HM Revenue and Customs slashed by 25pc, Trust Associates warns.