United Kingdom

UK - Trade unions have attacked the government for boosting MPs' pensions by 25% - and for trying to bury the rise in a three-year spending review.

UK - Assets of £14,000 or more are needed to purchase an annuity that generates a higher income than a full state pension for a man aged 65, the government claims.

UK - Baring Asset Management (BAM), part of the ING Group, is adopting Reech Capital's RiskHedge system for its Baring Hedge Select Fund to improve the transparency of investment portfolios within their fund of hedge funds.

UK - Staff at failed loss adjuster Miller Fisher have contacted the Metropolitan Police's fraud squad to help them trace £140,000 worth of lost pension contributions.

UK - Re-examining the industry's regulators would prompt much needed pension simplification, a leading consultant claims.

UK - The Liberal Democrat party has started a support network for those seeking fairer pensions for women.

UK - Hymans Robertson's Birmingham branch is moving to larger offices following a spate of new clients wins.

UK - Wokingham-based actuary and consultant BGJ & Co is becoming part of nationwide group Punter Southall.

UK - Last ditch talks to avert a court battle between Big Food Group and staff over closure of the firm's defined benefit scheme have broken down.

UK - Money purchase schemes have lost 50% of their value over the past three years, research by Lane Clark & Peacock shows.