United Kingdom

UK - Radical changes are needed to state pensions to ensure everyone is above means-tested benefits, a research paper by an independent think-tank says.

UK - The National Pensioners' Convention will hold a day of action today to coincide with the introduction of the pensions credit.

UK - Martin Currie Investment Management is opening its pan-European mid-cap equities fund - an "unconstrained benchmark" fund - to UK schemes.

UK/NETHERLANDS - Private equity manager Stirling Square Capital Partners has bought a controlling stake in Dutch packaging manufacturer Schoeller Wavin Systems for e145m (£101.3m).

UK - The government would consider forcing people to save into a pension plan if the voluntary route failed, Labour Party conference delegates heard.

UK - The Liberal Democrats have attacked the government's "abysmal" lack of protection for pensioners who lose their retirement savings when a company collapses.

UK - Insurers have set out a 10-point plan to avert a "full-scale pension crisis".

UK - Law firm CMS Cameron McKenna's autumn pensions seminar will cover issues such as scheme deficits, pensions reform and scheme administrators.

UK - Steel giant Corus insists its pension schemes are still "healthy", despite having around £770m wiped off their value in the year to the end of June.

UK - Independent Trustee Services has slammed government plans to delay the implementation of revised priority orders on wind-up until 2005.