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Money Box: Pensions lifeboat under pressure?

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30/04/2016

Pensions lifeboat under pressure?

BBC Radio 4 - Money Box, Pensions lifeboat under pressure?

Paul Lewis examines the Pension Protection Fund, which is in line to rescue BHS's scheme.

Paul Lewis examines the Pension Protection Fund, which is in line to rescue the pension scheme of BHS.

As BHS goes into administration and its pension scheme is assessed for entry to the Pension Protection Fund, Money Box takes a closer look at the pensions 'lifeboat'. David Blake, professor of pension economics at the Cass Business School, argues it risks getting in trouble itself, given the number of final salary pension schemes in deficit it could have to take on. But the PPF is currently in surplus, and Alan Higham of Pensionschamp.com explains the careful risk assessments its analysts make to ensure it can continue to come to the rescue of schemes in peril. They join Paul Lewis to discuss the best ways to manage the future costs of final salary pension schemes.

From today, the cost of making a call, sending a text or downloading an email while holidaying in the EU falls by 75% - and yet you could still pay £3 to send a single text message. Matthew Howett, from telecoms analysts Ovum, explains what's going on. The changes are due to EU legislation, but this begs the question of what will happen if the UK leaves the EU. Paul speaks to Arianna Andreangeli, lecturer in competition law at the University of Edinburgh.

People on low incomes are being expected to pay more towards their council tax by an increasing number of local councils in England. Since the national council tax benefit scheme was replaced by local council tax support, some who used to get 100% of their council tax paid now have to find 20% or more. Paul speaks to Hannah Aldridge from the New Policy Institute, who has researched the issue.

Presenter: Paul Lewis
Producer: Ruth Alexander.

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