United Kingdom

UK/US - Plans for a compulsory central insurance fund to protect final salary scheme members could be unveiled in the next few weeks, IPN's sister publication, Professional Pensions, can reveal.

UK - Postal workers are threatening industrial action if competition forces Royal Mail to close its final salary pension scheme - the fifth biggest in the UK.

UK - Local authorities have started their search for actuaries to replace Watson Wyatt following its decision to pull out of the market.

UK - The gap between the richest and poorest pensioners has widened "significantly" since New Labour came to power, according to shadow minister for work and pensions, Oliver Heald MP.

UK - Scottish Widows Investment Partnership has appointed Peter Glynne-Percy as head of research analysis.

UK - The FSA has proposed the introduction of a new category of non-retail schemes for institutional and expert investors only.

UK - Ernst & Young has joined the Alternative Investment Management Association as a sponsoring member.

UK - Deutsche Bank has announced new strategic alliances with seven fund managers, in an effort to increase its ability to offer independent and holistic funds advice.

UK - Aberdeen Asset Management has appointed Colm McDonagh as head of its global emerging market debt team.

UK - Inland Revenue restrictions on employer contributions to plug fund deficits could push more companies to abandon their final salary schemes, Horwarth Clark Whitehill warns.