United Kingdom

UK - Consultants are urging the Financial Services Authority to give pension funds clearer guidelines on how to communicate with staff.

UK - Unions representing staff at Peugeot's Ryton plant called off industrial action after the car manufacturer put forward a last-minute pay and pensions offer.

UK - A group of Labour MPs has scuppered a Bill aimed at reforming wind-up rules for pension schemes with insolvent employers.

UK/EU - UK Unions have vowed to oppose any move from the government to water down an EU directive that gives agency workers the same pension rights as permanent staff.

UK - The negative impact pension fund liabilities have on companies is being exaggerated by stock market commentators, a leading investment bank claims.

UK - The government has been criticised for its "non-committal stance" over whether the Equitable Life inquiry can recommend compensation for policyholders.

UK - OPRA has defended its decision to allow pension schemes to delay giving members written value calculations when they want to transfer out.

UK - Alan Parmenter has been hired by Brainpower - the provider of enterprise-wide investment analytics, attribution and decision-support solutions - as UK company manager.

UK - Supermarket giant Tesco has flouted the recommendations of the Higgs Review by naming a long-standing board member as its new chairman.

UK - Pension funds are being warned to monitor borrowing levels at department store giant Selfridges if it mortgages its flagship Oxford Street store.