The Pension Protection Fund's (PPF) latest 7800 Index has shown that the aggregate funding position of almost 7,400 DB funds in its eligible universe has improved over the month of November to a deficit of £92.5bn from £97.6bn.

The total deficit of schemes in deficit for November 2009 improved to £132.9bn from £135.1bn at the end of October, and the total surpluses of schemes in surplus also increased, from £37.5bn to £40.4bn.

Meanwhile, a small group of Television South West (TSW) pensioners has received a charge for £228,000 for 37 days of unwanted cover with the PPF, according to international firm, Osborne Clarke.

The TSW scheme, which boasts just 141 members, has had to pay the PPF the equivalent of £6,100 per day of membership. These members are former employees of Westward Television and Television South West who ran the Plymouth-based independent television franchise for the South West from 1961 to 1992. When TSW applied for its insolvent employer to be dissolved - so it would avoid the PPF levy for 2007/08 - it was subjected to delays, inflexible government policy and other problems with the systems.

Despite lobbying the government and the PPF, and following an investigation by the Parliamentary Ombudsman, the scheme did not receive a reduction in the levy nor compensation to mitigate its impact. In the period coming up to the demand for the levy, changes to legislation meant schemes were obliged to pay a full year's levy even if they became ineligible for compensation halfway through the year.

"The size of this levy is a complete body blow for our pensions," commented Peter Rodgers, chairman of the TSW Trustees. "The charge has been made despite significant support from South West Devon M.P. Gary Streeter in lobbying the government and the PPF, and a ruling by the Companies House Independent Adjudicator in our favour. It seems completely unfair that our pensioners should suffer because of failings in the very system designed to help them.

"We now have to explain to our members that the levy could mean that their pension fails to keep pace with inflation in future - something that they will undoubtedly see as a rip-off."

Jonathan Hazlett, pensions partner at Osborne Clarke, added: "It is a crying shame that, having to act in the best interests of its members, the TSW scheme has become the victim of inflexibility within two key government departments and the inability of the relevant adjudicators to provide financial redress.

"While the PPF has undoubtedly been successful in most cases, this chain of events proves that there is still work to be done to create the flexibility that smaller schemes in unique situations require in order to receive the help they need."

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