Legislation

UK - Employers could be forced to provide workers with financial education and communication materials in a bid to boost scheme take-up rates.

UK - Underfunded schemes in wind-up will have to pay for a government information gathering exercise that determines their eligibility for compensation.

UK - Mellon Human Resources and Investor Solutions has called for the establishment of a new pensions authority to help create a more stable and cost-effective system for pensions in the long-term.

UK - MPs are to press the parliamentary ombudsman to order the government to restore benefits to scheme wind-up victims, as well as compensation for distress.

UK - Group 4 Securicor has been forced to scrap plans to merge two final salary schemes due to protected rights regulations.

UK - Schemes and pensioners have attacked government plans to curb tax-free death benefits to members' spouses or relatives.

UK - Firms may consider using final salary scheme assets as a "catastrophe cushion" to reduce life insurance premiums for employees, Gissings claims.

UK - Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow, part of the global HR outsourcing and consulting firm Hewitt Associates (NYSE: HEW), has warned employers and trustees should thoroughly review their pension scheme rules before the new Finance Act is introduced or face paying...

UK - Employer contributions to money purchase plans are "well under half" rates paid into final salary schemes, a new survey shows.

UK - Companies will have to increase pension contributions because many schemes have underestimated their liabilities by up to 10%, consultants warn.