United Kingdom

UK - Administration specialist Capita Hartshead has appointed Richard Hardy as principal pensions technician within its pensions technical team.

UK - Government plans to cap pension pots at £1.4m will boost industry-wide schemes, PMI vice-president Penny Green predicts.

UK - The pensions ombudsman has attacked lawyers for time wasting and causing undue expense in member disputes.

UK - OPRA will not penalise trustees who, acting on the advice of the scheme actuary, delay statements of entitlement.

UK - Deloitte & Touche has created a "crash proof" asset liability model for schemes, which it says can help save company's credit ratings.

UK - Investment Solutions - the joint venture between IFA Alexander Forbes and consultant Lane Clark & Peacock - has been given regulatory approval by the FSA.

UK - UK equity income funds are yielding more than cash for the first time in 40 years, according to Hargreaves Lansdown.

UK - Standard & Poor's has assured firms defined benefit schemes are not, per se, incompatible with current ratings.

UK - The Church of England has reiterated that any negative effect the stockmarket has on its investments will not endanger clergy pensions.

UK - Royal & SunAlliance has outsourced the processing and administration of 2.4m life and pensions policies in a deal worth an estimated £300m.