Alistair Darling, the secretary of state for social security in the UK, has joined forces with the Treasury and thrown the debate on the future of the minimum funding requirement (MFR) wide open.

Responses to Darling and the Treasury's consultation process on the MFR, which is intended to provide a reasonable level of security for members in the event of the employer becoming insolvent and no further funds being available to pay into the scheme, are due by 31 January 2001.