No.  You cannot make additional payments into the Group Pension Scheme.  Only members who paid AVCs before 31 March 2006 are eligible to make further AVC payments.  See below for further information.

Yes.  You can, if you wish, pay extra contributions into more than one pension arrangement at any one time.

You will be able to recieve tax relief each tax year on pension contributions of up to 100% of your taxable pay, or £3,600 if greater.

Yes.  Tax relief is only available on pension contributions up to the Annual Allowance.  Pension contributions in this context broadly means:

i) the growth of your accrued pensions from defined benefit schemes (including the Group Pension Scheme) over one tax year multiplied by 10; and

ii) contributions made by or in respect of you into other pension arrangements in the same tax year

The Annual Allowance is set each year by the Treasury (£245,000 for the tax year 2009/10).

Additional contributions (over your contribution to the Group Pension Scheme) may be made into an alternative registered pension arrangement such as a stakeholder or personal pension scheme.

You may choose to invest additional contributions into the Press's Stakeholder Scheme.  These contributions would be made through the payroll.  Please note that any benefits accrued in the Stakeholder Scheme would be entirely separate from your Group Scheme benefits.  If you are interested in this option, please contact the Pensions Department for an information pack.

If you started paying additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) before 31 March 2006, you can in any year between 1 April and 31 March contribute up to a maximum of 10% of your earnings.

If you wish to alter your AVC payments in any way please complete the Amendment Form and return it to the Pensions Department.

Your AVCs may be taken as part of your tax-free cash lump sum up to your maximum allowed.  Alternatively, your AVCs can be used to secure you additional pension.  Please contact the Pensions Department for further information.