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  To correct you Marek - the 40 year limit no longer applies since age discrimination legislation and pension legislation no longer has a pension limit of two-thirds salary less commutation. The maximum is based on a lifetime allowance CETV of £1.8million (reducing to £1.5million soon). In addition to the 1/80th salary they get a tax-free pension commencement lump sum of 3/80ths this brings them up close to the old two-thrids level equiivilent to 1/60th scheme (under the latest legislation the lump sum from the Civil Service scheme can be increased further by commuting some income). The State Pension is on top of that pension. There is a change for new entrants to the Civil Service scheme to a lifetime salary rather than final salary, but this still represents a guaranteed defined benefit pension. The income is fully indexed (a major benefit).
  
  Someone on £20k after 40 years service in the 'classic' scheme when you take into account the State Pension at 65, not paying National Insurance and the higher 'age allowance' they get (so they have £9,940 tax free), they are not much worse off than at work.
  
  The simple fact is this.
  
  Someone working in the private sector cannot afford to invest sufficent to obtain a pension that can match that provided to the public sector given the same period of work. It is difficult to calculate exactly what someone would need to invest but 40% of income is not an unreasonable estimate but it does depend on what factors for growth/inflation and interest rates are used. Many people do not invest at all, but that is more about their own priorities than anything else.
  
  The 'average pension' figures you and the Unions provide are highly deceptive. They level they get is a set figure related to length of service and income. Short service/low income = low pension, but someone in the private sector with same service, same income would have to invest massively to match the public sector on the scale I suggest and that is not viable for people.
  
  Whilst I can and do sympathise with individuals I have to say that they have to face the realities of life and cannot expect their highly privileged pension provision to continue. Oh, I include MPs in that.

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