Scheme contributions

Local government pension schemes will be free to reform the fund and deliver savings to government without imposing a 3.2 percentage point increase on employees' contributions, PP understands.

The government has laid out the pace of the 3.2 percentage point increase in employee contribution by phasing it in gradually over three years, Danny Alexander confirms.

UK companies are needlessly paying £5bn into defined benefit pension schemes because their funding targets are more than 10% higher than necessary, PwC research finds.

Scheme trustees must ensure their scheme does not slip down the priority order of creditors after company debt repayments doubled year on year, consultants warn.

US - American households will have to contribute an average of $1,398 per year to fulfill pension promises, according to a new study.

US - The cash-strapped US Postal Service is to suspend employer contributions to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) in a bid to save cash and preserve liquidity.

Tens of thousands of local government scheme members will opt-out if Lord Hutton's proposal to increase contribution rates is implemented, the Treasury has admitted.

Employer contributions to the Local Government Pension Scheme exceeded employee contributions by £311m last year, government figures show.

Establishing a cap on the amount taxpayers contribute to public sector pensions will lead to more risk-averse investment strategies, delegates heard.

FRANCE - Alcatel-Lucent made a cash contribution of €42m ($60m) to its worldwide pension funds in Q1, the company's quarterly financial statement shows.