CPI

Fresh thinking is needed to make defined benefit (DB) schemes sustainable in wake of MPs' damning conclusions on British Home Stores (BHS), according to experts.

Some of the government's proposals to change benefits at the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) involve "significant risks for relatively limited gains" according to the Pensions Protection Fund (PPF).

While moving to CPI indexation can significantly reduce scheme liabilities, it can make buy-ins and buyouts more expensive. Kristian Brunt-Seymour finds pricing has slightly improved but still has a long way to go

Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) has invested £100m in infrastructure debt secured on the Thames Tideway Tunnel.

The majority of respondents in this week's PP survey believe it would be inappropriate for pensions ministers to side-step the regulator to rescue a crisis-hit scheme.

This week we want to know if TPR is being unfairly criticised during the BHS hearings and what aspect has the most influence on issues faced by DB schemes.

The debate over whether schemes should be able to change statutory pension increases from RPI to CPI continues with calls for a statutory override to be put in place. Kristian Brunt-Seymour considers its feasibility

The top stories this week were the Pension Scheme of the Year Award shortlist, the potential effects of the British Steel inflation rule change and BHS.

FTSE100 companies overall scheme deficits have reduced by over £15bn according to Barnett Waddingham's annual Accounting for Pension Costs by FTSE100 Companies report.

Allowing the British Steel scheme to ditch RPI for statutory minimum levels could lead to big losses for older members and create a loophole for other DB schemes, writes Stephanie Baxter.