United Kingdom

UK - Voting for six National Association of Pension Funds council posts will close next Friday (March 26).

UK - Pension tax simplification changes will take the industry up to three years to fully adopt, consultants warn.

UK - Schemes have registered returns of 17% for 2003, their first full year of positive returns for four years according to the WM Company.

UK - Prime minister Tony Blair has agreed to consider proposals by one of his backbenchers to compensate workers who have lost their pensions through company insolvency.

UK - NAPF CONFERENCE- The FSA has revised proposals on reforming soft commission and bundled brokerage arrangements following consultations with the industry and is likely to have another consultation shortly, said FSA chief executive John Tiner.

UK - Peter Knez has been promoted to chief investment officer of global fixed income at Barclays Global Investors.

UK - Schemes are hindering themselves by persisting with poorly performing fund managers for far too long, outgoing NAPF investment committee chairman Ken Ayers claims.

UK - Life office Clerical Medical has introduced a commission accelerator scheme in a bid to help IFAs deal with incoming regulatory changes.

UK - The NAPF has launched a Register of Investment Professionals, which trustees can use to bring in independent experts to advise them on investments.

UK - British workers are planning a high-profile protest against a German paper giant in a Maersk-style battle over pensions.