Legislation

The next government must halt the ‘salami slicing' of pensions tax relief within 100 days of taking power or risk alienating savers, Aegon says.

The Liberal Democrats have unveiled their 2010 election manifesto - outlining plans to scrap higher rate tax relief on pension contributions.

The Tories have pledged to raise the the secondary threshold at which employers start paying National Insurance by £21 a week, countering what it calls Labour's "job tax" of a 1% NI increase.

Staff at Norway's NOK2.7trn (US$452.2bn) Government Pension Fund Global must be breathing a sigh of relief as the Ministry of Finance took a slightly lighter touch when restricting its investments than had been feared.

Scottish employers who equalised retirement ages between male and female members will not have to increase scheme contributions in line with their English counterparts, a law firm says.

Schemes will be able to reclaim withholding taxes from Spain after the country's government amended legislation on the tax treatment of dividends.

SPAIN/EUROPE - Schemes will be able to reclaim withholding taxes from Spain after the country's government amended legislation on the tax treatment of dividends.

CANADA - New Democrat member of Canadian Parliament John Rafferty tabled a bill which would grant ‘secured' status to pension funds during bankruptcy proceedings and restructuring.

UK - The UK government is looking into scrapping the compulsory retirement age, Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling said.

Alistair Darling delivers his third Budget today and you can follow all the developments on pensions as they happen right here on www.professionalpensions.com from midday.