United Kingdom

UK - Moves by pensions ombudsman David Laverick to give his office greater powers than a Hhigh Court judge would be disastrous for schemes, lawyers warn.

UK - Unions have welcomed government plans to introduce legislation encouraging shareholder activism.

UK - Scheme members at stricken bus manufacturer Mayflower are being "kept in the dark" over pension entitlements, the Transport & General Workers' Union claims.

UK - The Pensions Protection Fund will face a raft of legal challenges over the government's decision to exclude survivor benefits for unmarried partners, experts warn.

UK - The National Association of Pension Funds may resurrect "case committees" to ease tensions between companies and disgruntled investors.

UK - New pension premiums are on the decline, with more workers opting for residential property investment, a survey by Mintel shows.

UK - Emerging markets specialist Fabien Pictet & Partners has launched a South Korean equities fund aimed at schemes and other institutional investors.

UK - A guide on defined contribution scheme transfers for financial advisers and employers has been published by Friends Provident.

UK - Edhec business school is launching a consultation paper that aims to improve reporting standards of fund of hedge funds.

UK - Local authority pension schemes have been urged to take a "prudent longer-term view" of liabilities ahead of the results of the triennial valuations.