All legal articles – Page 5
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NewsOpperman defends change to ombudsman appointment criteria
On the go: Pensions minister Guy Opperman has defended changes to the appointment criteria for the Pensions Ombudsman, after the last recruitment attempt failed to attract a suitable candidate.
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News‘No legal basis’ for interest payments on FAS compensation
On the go: Pensions minister Guy Opperman has sought to explain discrepancies in compensation payments between the Pension Protection Fund and the Financial Assistance Scheme arising from the Hampshire ruling, detailing that there is no legal basis for paying interest on arrears in the FAS.
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NewsOmbudsman cracks down on trustees with new anti-scam unit
The Pensions Ombudsman has launched a new specialist team dedicated to investigate breaches of trust, and allegations of dishonest and fraudulent behaviour by pension scheme trustees.
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NewsTimms questions compensation cap on Financial Assistance Scheme
On the go: Stephen Timms MP, chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, has written to pensions minister Guy Opperman seeking clarity over the compensation cap placed on the Financial Assistance Scheme.
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NewsMPs support CDC development, call for DWP to scrap statement season
In a wide-ranging report, the Work and Pensions Committee has recommended that the government continue its work on collective defined contribution schemes and, separately, scrap the proposals for a “statement season” favoured by pensions minister Guy Opperman.
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PodcastsPodcast: DC focus must ‘fundamentally shift’ from costs to value in 2022
Podcast: The focus on defined contribution scheme offerings must “fundamentally shift” from costs to value for money in 2022 if better outcomes are to be achieved. Darren Philp, director of policy and communication at Smart Pension, and Mike Ambery, partner at Hymans Robertson, discuss the DC outlook, expanding auto-enrolment, and reforming Solvency II.
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NewsAccess pool criticised by LGPS board over policy failings
Investment pool Access has earned the ire of the Local Government Pension Scheme Advisory Board, having failed to implement a policy on member representation that was decided in 2017.
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NewsHigh Court rebuffs police officers’ McCloud judicial review
The High Court has rejected a judicial review claim brought by the Police Superintendents’ Association against the government’s McCloud consultation, despite finding legal errors in the process.
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NewsLGPS seeks UN clarity on Israel investment comments
On the go: The Local Government Pension Committee and the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum are to arrange a call with UN special rapporteur Michael Lynk, seeking clarity over his comments on investments in contested Israeli settlements.
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NewsPolice officers reiterate McCloud criticisms in consultation response
A campaign group representing police officers dissatisfied with the government’s handling of the 2015 public sector pension reforms have reiterated their complaints in response to the McCloud consultation, calling for the changes to be reversed.
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People NewsPLSA to expand policy board expertise
On the go: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association is looking to expand the range of expertise on its policy board and committees, calling on experts from across the industry to apply for roles.
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NewsMoD to reinstate Armed Forces Scheme member after scam transfer
The Ministry of Defence will have to reinstate a former member to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme and pay him £2,000 for severe distress and inconvenience, after wrongly allowing him to transfer to the Capita Oak Pension Scheme, a scam that invested in storage pods.
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NewsSolvency II reform could unlock ‘tens of billions’ in investments
On the go: The reform of the EU’s Solvency II requirements would unlock a “Brexit bonus” amounting to “tens of billions” of pounds in long-term infrastructure investment, according to a new report from the Pension Insurance Corporation.
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NewsPodcast: Fiduciary trumps politics if divesting from ‘illegal Israeli settlements’
Podcast: Local Government Pension Schemes looking to divest from Israel should do so on grounds of sustainability and fiduciary responsibility, not because of politics and personal morality, says Richard Butcher, managing director of PTL. He is joined by Ian Neale, Aries Insight co-founder, to discuss divestment, defined benefit funding and ageing populations.
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NewsMcCloud rebellion grows as six unions file for judicial review
Six trade unions want to take the government to court in a bid to stop it imposing the cost of the McCloud remedy on their members, with one considering strike action.
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NewsNew Judicial Pension Scheme progresses despite concerns
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed it will move forward with the creation of a new pension scheme for judges, despite concerns from some judges and legal associations that it will be less generous than the existing arrangements
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NewsDWP begins engagement over multi-employer CDC schemes
Pensions minister Guy Opperman has confirmed that preliminary work has begun on the creation of multi-employer collective defined contribution schemes, as the Department for Work and Pensions publishes its response to the consultation on single-employer arrangements.
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NewsPLSA calls for ‘major review’ of Fraud Compensation Fund
On the go: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association has called for a “major review” of the Fraud Compensation Fund, branding the current arrangement “not fit for purpose”.
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NewsRegulators’ value for money paper branded ‘utopian’ by SPP
On the go: The Society of Pension Professionals has criticised the “utopian” value for money discussion paper published by the Pensions Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority, arguing that there is “no practical way” of achieving the goals set out.
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NewsIndustry concerns remain over anti-scam transfer restrictions
Almost half of schemes have more work to do to comply with new anti-scams transfer guidance, while nearly 10 per cent have “lots of work” to do, an XPS Pensions Group webinar has heard.