More Law & Regulation – Page 27
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NewsJaguar and Mercer rapped by ombudsman for ‘woeful’ service
The trustee of the Jaguar Pension Plan, and its administrator Mercer, have been ordered to compensate a member who retired on the basis of incorrect information about his pension.
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NewsSchemes free to consider McCloud ‘immediate detriment’ payments
On the go: Pension schemes may weigh up whether it is appropriate to offer a remedy to members suffering “immediate detriment” from the McCloud ruling, the Pensions Ombudsman has said.
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NewsPandemic damage mitigated as quarter of schemes are in surplus
More than a quarter (27 per cent) of defined benefit and hybrid schemes with tranche 15 valuations were in surplus on a technical provisions basis, despite the market shock of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Pensions Regulator’s latest scheme funding analysis.
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NewsPodcast: Ball in TPR’s court as DB funding code consultation launches
Podcast: The consultation into the defined benefit funding code by the Department for Work and Pensions hints at a prescriptive regime to come, but the Pensions Regulator must improve on its “rubbish” code of practice draft, according to Zedra client director Richard Butcher. He and Hymans Robertson partner Laura McLaren discuss the next steps, stronger nudge concerns, and assess the health of pensions post-Maxwell.
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NewsTfL workers plan strike in August over pensions
On the go: Tube workers will strike once more on August 19 over pay and pensions, this time in response to an alleged refusal by Transport for London to share details of a government funding proposal for London transport.
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News80% of DB schemes to hit long-term funding goals within 9 years
On the go: Eighty per cent of defined benefit pension schemes expect to meet their long-term targets within the next nine years, according to new research.
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NewsPPF to cover costs of scheme Fraud Compensation Fund claims
The Department for Work and Pensions is consulting on regulatory amendments that would allow the Pension Protection Fund to make interim payments to cover scheme fees and costs during Fraud Compensation Fund claims, and remove a loophole regarding child dependants.
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NewsNew proposals set DB schemes on path to ‘low dependency’
Defined benefit pension schemes will need to be funded in such a way that they are in a state of “low dependency” on their sponsoring employer by the time they are significantly mature, under new government proposals.
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NewsUSS annual report shows significant improvement but angers unions
The significant improvement in the Universities Superannuation Scheme’s funding position and resilience has angered the University and College Union, which argued that benefit cuts implemented in April were “totally unnecessary” in light of the scheme’s strength.
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NewsPFA pushes for women’s football pension scheme
On the go: The Professional Footballers’ Association is campaigning for a new pension mechanism for women footballers, which would be similar to an arrangement for their male counterparts that is funded by a levy on transfer fees.
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NewsUSS review sees ‘much improved’ deficit cut by £12bn
Despite an accelerated year-end review conducted by the Universities Superannuation Scheme revealing a “much improved deficit”, with a reduction of £12bn, the trustee board is reluctant to agree to interim changes to benefits of contribution rates before the scheme’s 2023 valuation.
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NewsPension savers prioritise returns over ‘investment big bang’
On the go: Less than a fifth of pension savers think that investing their pensions in companies or assets that would benefit their local area should be prioritised, new research has revealed.
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NewsABI: Solvency II reforms would ‘disincentivise’ infra investment
The government’s proposed reforms to the Solvency II regime would not help to facilitate insurers’ investment into UK infrastructure, the Association of British Insurers has claimed in a consultation response.
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NewsDB goliaths call for AVCs stronger nudge exemption
Seven defined benefit schemes with £217bn in assets have asked for Work and Pensions committee intervention due to concerns regarding ‘stronger nudge’ requirements, which they believe are not fit for purpose.
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NewsGovernment urged to allow Nest to offer drawdown
The government has been told to amend legislation to allow Nest members to drawdown their pension pot, as well as extending investment pathways to trust-based schemes — requests made as part of a response to its call for evidence on savers’ understanding of their pensions.
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NewsFCA failed to protect British Steel scheme members, MPs say
The Financial Conduct Authority had “inadequate oversight” of companies involved in the British Steel Pension Scheme transfer scandal and was “consistently behind the curve” when responding to issues, MPs have claimed.
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NewsAE bill to allow introduction of new rules when ‘time is right’
On the go: A private members’ bill on auto-enrolment currently being discussed in parliament will set the ground work to introduce reforms “when the government feels that the time is right”, Conservative MP Richard Holden has said.
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NewsScam warnings on DB transfers reach all-time high
On the go: The number of scam warnings on defined benefit transfers is at an all-time high, despite a downward trend in transfer activity, XPS Pensions has said.
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NewsGovt urged to tackle NHS pensions amid staff retention fears
The government has been encouraged to address NHS pensions in order to tackle staff retention issues, following the announcement of a sub-inflation pay rise of 4.5 per cent for eligible dentists and doctors.
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NewsFirefighters demand fix to ‘grossly unfair’ pensions dilemma
The Fire Brigades Union has drawn attention to a problem facing members that have accrued benefits in both the 1992 and 2015 Firefighters’ Pension Schemes, which exposes, in particular, members aged over 55 that can no longer meet firefighters’ fitness requirements.