United Kingdom

UK - Cleaners at three Welsh colleges are threatening to strike after learning that their pension benefits could be lost following a change of employer.

UK - A hard core of employers have decided to keep their final salary schemes open to new employees because they believe it fits their organisational culture and gives them a competitive advantage, according to a survey by Watson Wyatt.

UK - A portal that allows IFAs to give clients up-to-the-minute investment positions is being offered by software provider WMS Fairs.

UK - The department for work and pensions has set up an email service for members of collapsed schemes who may be eligible for financial assistance.

UK - Two council briefs held by Deutsche Asset Management have been put out to tender.

UK - Large pension schemes have made strides in applying the recommendations in the Myners report, but small pension funds are lagging behind and the greatest progress is often consultant rather than trustee led.

UK - More than half of schemes have reviewed their benefit structures because of changes outlined in the Finance Bill, a survey shows.

UK - Members of the stricken Nikko Europe Pension Fund fear that remaining assets are being wasted by winding-up delays.

UK - THE government's decision to cut 100,000 civil service jobs will put an enormous strain on the sector's pension schemes, Punter South-all has warned.

UK - British Airways pay talks have broken down after unions were warned that pension costs would limit the scope for salary increases.