United Kingdom

UK - CLASS members voted unanimously to increase their annual contributions to meet new demands on computerised pensions administration in the Local Government Pension Scheme.

UK - Companies are increasingly considering the option of replacing corporate pension plans with a cash alternative and letting individuals take full responsibility for planning for an income in retirement, according to new research.

UK - A good benefits package has become a bigger attraction than a high salary, conference delegates were told.

UK - Software provider Dunstan Thomas has produced a guide to customer relationship management.

UK - As life expectancy rises and birth rates decline, an increase in the retirement age will inevitably rise, according to Mercer.

UK - Final salary pensions will remain the preferred option for company directors after the new tax regime takes effect in 2006, a study by Lane Clark & Peacock shows.

UK - A new call management solution used by Aberdeen City Council could change the future of Local Government Pension Scheme administration, scheme managers were told at a recent conference.

UK - The Gotaas-Larsen UK Pension Scheme, sponsored by Golar Management, has appointed Northern Trust to run a £3.5m manager of managers (MoM) investment mandate.

UK - Thousands of people marched through central London on Saturday demanding government and employer action to end the pensions crisis.

UK - The £680m Somerset County Council pension scheme is looking to appoint a global custodian.