UK government officials are piling pressure on pension fund managers to commit 10% of their assets to listed and unlisted British equities as part of a rebooted Mansion House compact in the summer.

Torsten Bell, the pensions minister, has suggested a voluntary 10% allocation to the UK during conversations with the industry, according to five investment managers who asked not to be named because the discussions were private. One of the people said the request carried an implicit threat that the government could force firms to invest in the UK as part of the ongoing Pension Investment Review if a voluntary arrangement is not struck.