United Kingdom

UK - The formal first reading of the much awaited Pensions Bill was held in parliament on Wednesday. The Bill will be published today at 9.30am.

UK - Increasing member protection could price pensions out of the economy, Simplification Report author and Watson Wyatt partner Alan Pickering (pictured) believes.

UK - Russell/Mellon CAPS's estimate of overall UK pension fund performance for the year ending 31 December 2003 is 15.8%.

UK - More than half of all employers have closed their final salary pension schemes to new members and 15% have raised their retirement age, a new survey shows.

UK - Aon Consulting, the pensions, benefits and HR consulting firm, has appointed Simon Ball as manager of its international healthcare division.

UK - ETF assets under management grew significantly in 2003, increasing by 49% to $211bn, according to a year-end summary from Morgan Stanley.

UK - Companies that pose a higher risk will pay more for the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) compensation cover and costs will be kept down for good employers with well-funded schemes, the government said today.

UK - The National Pensioners' Convention has launched a nationwide debate to create a Pensioners' Manifesto.

UK - Publishing and information group Reed Elsevier is increasing member and employer contributions to its final salary scheme following a triennial actuarial valuation.

UK - Nearly three million people receive the pension credit, figures released by the department for work and pensions show.