The High Court is to hear challenges brought by a number of public sector unions to the £95,000 exit payment cap, after permission for a judicial review was granted late last year.

On the go: Capita Pensions has been awarded a five-year contract extension by the Universities Superannuation Scheme to deliver pension system and administration support.

Data crunch: Figures from the Office for National Statistics show an increase of 22 per cent in liabilities in three years, raising questions about the sustainability of public pension schemes.

On the go: The announced reform of the retail price index, to match the consumer price index including housing costs, saw inflation hedging rise by six per cent quarter on quarter at the end of September 2020.

This week — the government’s ‘solution’ to McCloud, TPR’s warning on climate change, PPF’s proposals on actuarial valuations, and a U-turn on reforms to the NHS scheme.

Podcast: Stuart O’Brien, partner at Sackers, and Tegs Harding discuss climate change and responsible investments, another row at the Universities Superannuation Scheme, and the cartelisation of the advisory market.

The government has confirmed it will opt for the deferred choice underpin solution to the McCloud problem, which despite being the right choice according to pensions specialists, will open the floodgates of admin woes for public sector schemes.

On the go: Almost 90 per cent of defined contribution scheme members expect a shortfall in retirement income based on current provision, while almost a quarter of people think they will never be able to retire, according to the latest edition of Aon’s DC member survey.

Data crunch: The majority of master trusts are targeting defined contribution schemes in a bid to boost their assets under management, leading to heightened competition in a marketplace where there is scepticism about acquiring rivals.

Welcome to Pensions Expert’s roundup of a week that saw the Department for Work and Pensions publish its horrifically long response to the ‘Taking action on climate risk’ consultation, in which allegedly Conservative minister Guy Opperman promised a “revolution”.