Quarterly Briefing


Contents

The December, 2008 Quarterly Briefing (PDF, 238 KB) highlights significant developments in pensions law, covering key areas such as pensions reform, regulatory developments, new legislation and cases.

Pensions Bill 2007/08

  • New version published

Personal Accounts

  • Quality requirement

Pension sharing on divorce

  • Response to consultation published

GMP conversion

  • Consultation on draft regulations

Financial Assistance Scheme

  • Expedited payments for the terminally ill

HM Revenue & Customs

  • Registered Pension Schemes Manual

HM Treasury

  • Updating the Myners Principles: Response to consultation

National Association of Pension Funds

  • NAPF launches Pension Quality Mark
  • Best practice principles for investment advice

Pension Protection Fund

  • Levy proposals
  • Long-term proposals

The Pensions Regulator

  • New guidance: Member communications
  • Pension fund choices
  • Good practice in selecting mortality assumptions
  • Conflicts of interest – final guidance published
  • Trustee knowledge and understanding (TKU) – revised code of practice
  • TPR issues statement to trustees about current financial pressures

Cases

  • The Incorporated Trustees of the National Council on Ageing (Age Concern England) v Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Heyday)
  • Smithson v Hamilton
  • Allied Domecq (Holdings) Ltd v Allied Domecq First Pension Trust Ltd
  • Went v Trustees of the Asheridge Limited Discretionary Pension Scheme