TOTAL new premium income and investments in Scottish Widows' fund

management business exceeded #1500m, it was claimed yesterday.

The Edinburgh mutual's pensions management subsidiary achieved gross

new annual and single premiums exceeding #459m.

General manager of marketing Newton Scott said that at #4500m Widows'

pooled managed fund was now the largest in the UK by about #2000m. In

addition, segregated fund business continued to grow, with a further

#125m new inflow.

House purchase product sales increased by 46% last year, to over #23m

in annual premiums, with regular premium savings up from #26m to #31m.