NEW REPORT 'SHATTERS THE GOVERNMENTS CASE' FOR PENSION CUTS

23 May A House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts report "The impact of the 2007-2008 changes to public service pensions" confirms what unions have been saying - that  there is no need for public sector workers to be paying in more for their pensions.

The report says: "Government projections suggest that the 2007-08 changes are likely to reduce costs to taxpayers of the pension schemes by �67 billion over 50 years".

In a National Union of Teachers (NUT) press release, Christine Blower, NUT general secretary, said: �This report shatters the government's case for further cuts in public sector pensions.  The Select Committee has confirmed the National Audit Office's verdict that costs are falling and pensions are affordable".

�The Committee is right to criticise the government for proposing further changes without even having considered what is affordable.  This is a policy based on nothing short of false assumption and spin�.

Martin Powell-Davis