United Kingdom

UK - Schemes, insurers and trade unions are urging the government to give tax breaks to firms which make pensions available in the workplace.

UK - The Inland Revenue has lost its long-running battle over the tax treatment of lump sum payments for directors pursuing non-executive roles after retirement.

UK - UBS's Triton Property Fund has acquired two leisure parks in Leicester and Southampton from Heron Property for £42m.

UK - Confederation of British Industry director general Digby Jones has called on the Chancellor to make pensions and saving for the future the "new cool".

UK - Government plans to boost member protection will increase the costs of running occupational schemes for employers five-fold, research from Aon Consulting states.

UK - The shift from final salary to money purchase provision is being halted by "risk sharing" hybrid schemes, a survey by IPN's sister publication, Professional Pensions, shows.

UK - Lawyers have voiced "serious" concerns over proposed changes to the pensions ombudsman's office but claim they are powerless to act on any of the measures.

UK - Existing levels of pension provision cannot be maintained, a snapshot poll of consultants reveals.

UK - The Institute of Actuaries has reported that a charge of misconduct by Mr RG Brown has been referred to a disciplinary panel by the investigating committee.

UK - Schemes will have to work to very tight deadlines to comply with the Inland Revenue's tax changes, Watson Wyatt warns.