United Kingdom

UK - Small schemes are shunning consultants and carrying out tenders themselves, Lane Clark & Peacock claims.

UK - Scheme members could be forced to share up to half of their future pension entitlements with spouses they have divorced, lawyers warn.The warning follows the Appeal Court battle between Arsenal footballer Ray Parlour and his former wife, Karen.

UK - KPMG has been warned not to cut employees' benefits - irrespective of the outcome of a High Court battle.

UK - A pensions "crisis" in the charity sector is making it increasingly difficult for organisations to recruit and retain staff, a new report reveals.

UK - Six pension funds have each invested 10% of their assets in unconstrained equity mandates and others are set to follow, Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow predicts.

UK - Norwich Union is axing its pension scheme wind-up service - a decision which lawyers say will leave trustees "high and dry".

UK - Venture capital group Permira is considering a second bid for high street retailer WHSmith a month after talks stalled over its scheme deficit.

UK - Ministers have denied any U-turn on controversial Pensions Bill clauses which bosses fear will curb investment in British firms.

UK - Pension initiatives could be disrupted by Chancellor Gordon Brown decision to axe 40,000 jobs in the department for work and pensions, a leading consultant warns.

UK - The £920m BOC Group pension scheme has suspended additional voluntary contributions through Friends Provident due to concerns over administration problems.