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• Alistair Darling’s in-tray  It will take more than a makeover to tackle the problems facing the new Department of Work and Pensions. Stephanie Hawthorne, Editor, issues a mandate to the Secretary of State.

• The changing face of pensions
Will a new shade of pensions lipstick be enough or is surgery necessary? Pamela Atherton reports

• Net effects Technology: a mechanism for capitalist hegemony, or a path to pensions nirvana? Alison Moore finds out.

• Cash and carry Actuaries and Cash Converters: some say they’re both money for old rope. Ross Russell wonders whether actuarial factors produce fair value for members’ optional benefits.

• England expects every man… They will fight on the beaches, they will fight in the streets… pension schemes can arouse the kind of emotion not seen since the last world war. Raymond Ainscoe keeps the peace.

• Venture scouting The Myners review did not advocate outdoor pursuits, camping and community work for young men, nor did it explain how to tie a reef knot. It did, however, mention venture capital, as David Thorp explains.

• Measuring up Does your pension fund make the grade? David Harris gets his tape measure out.

• World in action Is it time to re-evaluate the effect of country and sector factors on investment returns? Ask Mark Barnes, Anthony Bercel and Steven Rothmann.

• Chinese whispers China presents a number of investment opportunities says David Hodgson. But don’t shout it too loudly.

• Demanded in custody It’s a small world and the global custody market is shrinking all the time. Allison Plager reviews the scene.

• Currency Counts Is active currency management an overlooked opportunity? Kanesh Lakhani finds out.