United Kingdom

UK - Concerns over returns have prompted the £1.7bn Staffordshire County Council Pension Fund to undertake a full review of its investment managers.

UK - Two Yorkshire pension funds have increased the size of a jointly run investment advisory panel in line with recommendations in the Myners report.

UK / IRELAND - Irish financial services group IFG has bought Bristol-based IPS Actuarial Services from its management for £15.4m (EUR25.2m).

UK - Banking union Unifi says a deal to compensate part-time workers previously shut out of Lloyds TSB's pension scheme is "imminent".

UK - Second tier pension schemes have distorted private sector provision in the UK and should be abolished, consultant Watson Wyatt claims.

UK - Peter Thompson, chairman of the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF), has called on Chancellor Gordon Brown to use this week's budget to restore confidence in the UK pensions system.

UK - HSBC Asset Management has strengthened its European equities team with the appointment of Andrew Koch as senior fund manager.

UK - High street electrical giant Dixons is closing its final salary scheme to new members.

UK - Small differences in salary assumptions can have massive FRS17 implications, Towers Perrin warns.

UK - Auditors are to be consulted before the NAPF changes its corporate governance guidelines.