Legislation

UK - Union officials will issue a strike ballot to Network Rail staff next week after the firm pressed ahead with plans to close its final salary scheme to new members.

UK - Staff at chemical producer Ineos are considering strike action over plans to slash pension scheme benefits and increase costs.

UK - A petition calling for the government to block "immoral" changes to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme will be presented to parliament next month.

UK - Beneficiaries of scheme members killed in a terrorist attack may get only 10% of their benefits because insurers are capping catastrophe cover, experts warn.

UK - Government amendments to priority orders on scheme wind-ups have been dismissed as "less than a temporary fix" by consultants.

UK - Risk and healthcare benefits are becoming a key way to retain and attract skilled staff, a senior benefit consultant says.

UK - Schemes should rationalise arrangements to cut costs and boost efficiency, before regulatory changes come into force, experts say.

UK - Removing limited price indexation for defined contribution schemes could have unintended consequences that will threaten occupational schemes, NAPF chairman Terry Faulkner warns.

UK - Employers are being urged to provide scheme members with projections of their pension entitlements before the April 2005 deadline in order to avoid a "backlash".

UK - Mellon Financial Corporation is hosting a series of talks on changes outlined in the Pensions Bill.