All Legislation articles – Page 8
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NewsPolice Scotland warned of staff exodus after pension changes
Police Scotland is reportedly facing a staff exodus after changes to pension lump sum rules led 1,800 staff to query the size of the figure they will receive under the new system, with 400 having already decided to leave the service.
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NewsPASA publishes pre-employment guidance to deter fraudsters
On the go: The Pensions Administration Standards Association has published guidance on pre-employment checks for administrators, as it has been made aware of fraud cases undertaken or assisted by employees of these companies.
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NewsProfessional trustee market expected to grow and consolidate
Data crunch: The professional trustee market is expected to grow further over the next five years as up to 90 per cent of schemes make appointments, but the number of large companies is expected to almost halve, according to new research.
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OpinionTPR: The Green Cross Code man
The Pensions Regulator, together with the Financial Conduct Authority and the Money and Pensions Service, has issued a warning to members of P&O’s defined benefit pension schemes.
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NewsUSS and University of Southampton make AVC blunder
On the go: The Pensions Ombudsman has partially upheld a complaint against the University of Southampton and the Universities Superannuation Scheme trustee after a communication lapse saw a member continue to make annual voluntary contributions after her policy had ended.
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NewsMcCloud remedy causes three of four schemes to breach cost cap
The Government Actuary’s Department has published the cost cap valuations of four public sector schemes, confirming that the cost of implementing the McCloud remedy has led to a breach of the cost control mechanism, cancelling previously-agreed benefits increases.
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NewsGMP guidance ‘helpful’ but ‘could have gone further’ on conversion
The government’s supplementary guidance on guaranteed minimum pensions equalisation was broadly welcomed by the industry as it could save trustees “time and money”, but some have cautioned that the section on conversion will make little difference without legislation.
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NewsHMRC to address GMP conversion tax issues ‘in the coming weeks’
The government has promised supplementary guidance on guaranteed minimum pensions conversion “in the coming weeks” and confirmed it is working on legislative changes, as the debate on the second reading of the pension schemes (conversion of GMPs) bill concludes in the House of Lords.
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NewsAppeals made as foreign exchange class action proceeds on opt-in basis
The Competition Appeal Tribunal has ruled that a class action suit against banks for participating in a foreign exchange spot trading cartel must proceed on an opt-in basis, leading to fears that thousands of pension funds could miss their opportunity to join the suit.
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NewsEx-Norton owner given suspended sentence over missing pensions
Stuart Garner, former owner of Norton Motorcycles, has been given a suspended sentence, after pleading guilty to illegally investing pension scheme money in his failing company.
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NewsCharge cap proposals criticised as govt launches illiquids consultation
The government has said it will “take time to consider” industry concerns around its proposals to exclude performance fees from the charge cap, and has launched a combined consultation into other ways in which to encourage defined contribution schemes to invest in illiquid assets.
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NewsLabour accuses government of undermining pensions ‘consensus’
On the go: Labour’s shadow secretary of state for work and pensions, Jonathan Ashworth, has accused the government of breaking with pensions “consensus” and undermining workers’ protection with its planned pension reforms.
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NewsRegulator's notifiable events regime could be delayed
On the go: Industry commentators are asking whether the Pensions Regulator’s new notifiable events regime might be delayed, as the government has yet to respond to last year’s consultation into the expansion of the regulator’s powers.
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NewsPASA covers crossovers, tax and death benefits in GMP guidance
On the go: The Pensions Administration and Standards Association has launched guidance tacking frequently asked questions around guaranteed minimum pension equalisation, including tax implications, death benefits, commutation, and the ‘look-back’ approach for crossover members.
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PodcastsPodcast: Natural capital can improve scheme returns but concerns remain
Podcast: Natural capital can improve scheme returns but trustees should not forget to consider their fiduciary duties of being able to pay pensions in the future and have a defensive investment strategy, argue Alina Donets, portfolio manager at Lombard Odier Investment Managers, and Stuart O’Brien, partner at Sackers.
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NewsOpperman calls for industry input on CDC expansion
On the go: Pensions minister Guy Opperman has called on the industry to work with government on expanding the nascent collective defined contribution market, though experts have previously warned that draft regulations are too strict to allow for real growth in the sector.
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NewsNatWest pumps £427mn into pensions as govt reduces its stake
NatWest Group has paid £427mn into its pension scheme as a result of an off-market purchase of ordinary shares from HM Treasury, which saw the government’s stake in the banking group drop beneath 50 per cent for the first time since the 2008 financial crash.
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PodcastsPodcast: Spring Statement - Missed opportunity to support savers
Podcast: A light Spring Statement on pension topics meant that important issues such as financial education and support for institutional investors are still missing from the government’s agenda, argued Callum Stewart, head of defined contribution investment at Hymans Robertson, and Charlotte O’Leary, chief executive and executive director at Pensions for Purpose.
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NewsTimms probes Treasury on tax charges to pension scam victims
On the go: Work and Pensions Committee chair Stephen Timms has written to HM Treasury asking for “clarity” on the tax treatment of pension liberation victims.
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NewsUCU calls for staff welfare inquiry as two-thirds consider quitting
On the go: Two-thirds of university staff could quit the higher education sector altogether over mounting dissatisfaction with pay, pensions and working conditions, the University and College Union has warned, as it calls for the Education Select Committee to set up an inquiry into staff welfare.