DWP consulted on draft Regs. requiring members to be given basic scheme information within one month and allowing schemes to communicate electronically (OP, February 2010).

Pensions Act 2008 allows PPF payments to be shared (OP, May 2009). Government does not plan to extend pension sharing on divorce to cohabiting couples at present (OP, May 2008).

Finance Act 2004 raises minimum pension age to 55 (OP, October 2009); HMRC issued short guide. Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) amended to remove “85-year rule” (OP, August 2006); but subsequently Labour government consulted on protection for current staff (OP, August 2007).

Equality Bill consolidates and strengthens current equality legislation so as to comply with EU Directive, although implications for pensions are modest (OP, June 2009).