Queries to pensions ombudsman rise

THE new pensions ombudsman, Paul Kenny, has seen a massive increase in the number of queries to his office over the last seven months.

The figure has grown from just four in March to 39 in September and to date he has had 21 in October.

Many of these have been referred back for disputes resolution. About a dozen former pension board and winding-up cases are still live and, of the 114 files, 10 are closed, as being outside terms of reference, or solved, “one way or another”.