Opinion

Last night's first ever televised leaders' debate saw the three prospective Prime Ministers stick predictably tightly to their manifestos when the subject of the economy was raised.

Steve Bee - the former Head of Pensions at Prudential and pension strategist at Royal London - has updated his list of ministerial teams who have steered pensions policy since Labour came to power.

Staff at Norway's NOK2.7trn (US$452.2bn) Government Pension Fund Global must be breathing a sigh of relief as the Ministry of Finance took a slightly lighter touch when restricting its investments than had been feared.

Last week, the department for work and pensions published a note for employers detailing the risk-sharing options available under current legislation.

David Worsfold on why the departure of almost a quarter of sitting MPs should not necessarily be welcomed

Even Alistair Darling would have trouble spinning these numbers: Fewer than two million viewers tuned in to watch him debate with Chancellor-in-waiting George Osborne and the Lib Dem's Vince Cable last night. Nine million opted for EastEnders.

The Budget was a bit of a mixed-bag when it came to personal finance. ISA limits were increased - surely a good thing - but pensions tax relief restrictions were retained in their current complex form, additional complexity that could well deter people...

Alistair Darling's Budget speech is still some hours away and - despite much industry speculation - we still have little idea as to what he will propose with regards to pensions.

The government claims the National Employment Savings Trust will meet the Pension Commission's ambition for a low cost scheme.

The latest National Association of Pension Funds gathering in Edinburgh found three or four hundred industry veterans in astonishingly good spirits, considering their frankly dire predicament.