""And I agree on the contract issue - if someone has paid into a scheme for many years based on a specific contract and scheme-type, they should benefit from the scheme they contracted in to. But there needs to be a new set-up for more recent scheme-members and new joiners, which more accurately mirrors the kind of scheme that the majority of private-sector workers are now stuck with.""

As far as I know BW the existing pension pots are being ring fenced and guaranteed pensions will be honoured.

All changes should, I agree, be applied to new joiners only, but the trouble is that there is already a shortfall of about nine billion, rising by almost four billion a year if changes are not made.

I remember, in 1971, overhearing a conversation between two elderly ladies about decimalisation of money.

"It's all very well dear" said one "But I do think they might have waited till all us old 'uns have died before doing it".

If only real life worked that way...........

Don T.