United Kingdom

UK - Non-executive directors are not "up to the job" of policing company boards on the behalf of schemes.

UK - Industry figures fear the government will use the pensions green paper to launch another assault on tax-free lump sums.

UK/AUSTRALIA/US - The Trades Union Congress has warned the Government against copying "failed" American attempts to improve the pension system.

UK - The number of companies closing their pension schemes to new members has almost doubled in the past year, new figures from the NAPF show.

UK - Royal London Asset Management has won a £130m UK corporate bond mandate from the £4bn West Midlands Metropolitan Authorities Pension Fund.

UK - A county council is reintroducing tobacco companies in its portfolio because trustees fear they could be sued for failing to get the "best financial return".

UK - Socially responsible pension funds are being urged to sell all their investments in arms companies.

UK - The £160m British Waterways (1990) Pension Fund has appointed Frank Russell Company to manage half of its assets.

UK - State Street Global Advisors has been awarded a £850m multi-asset passive mandate from Royal Liver, the life assurance company.

UK - Neptune Investment Management has appointed Graham Nicklin as regional sales director for the Midlands and West region.