Pretty much all public sector pension provision is paid out of current taxation.

Our Government has not got a pot of gold to dip into (although it expects the private sector to build secure funds for itself).

This means that public servants retiring today (at 50), who are likely to enjoy about 30 years of index linked retirement, will be supported by not just current taxpayers, but their children as well.

Just as well Gordon Brown keeps this £700 billion future liability off the nation's balance sheet, otherwise he would really scare the children.

David Farnsworth, Old Orchard, Haxby, York.