One sore point for this group is that for some, this country's basic pensions have been meagre, complicated and occasionally demeaning.

BBC: A few shades of grey at the Treasury

Notwithstanding this stated position, in FY 2009 the LDP allowed tax revenue to cover up to 50 percent of the cost of basic pensions.

FORBES: Work Begins on Reforming the National Pension

In response to these emerging higher standards, pensions must question many of their basic assumptions and implement changes.

FORBES: International Campaign to Eliminate Pension Consultant Abuses (November 2, 2004 )

Scotrail taxed your pension at basic rate, which seems fine given the two other pensions, and the RAF would have a code reduction for the state pension being received, and also a reduction for any other taxable income.

BBC: Fergus Muirhead

The most daring strategy would be for Mr Bush to lay out an ambitious policy for the second term centred on a fundamental reform of America's entitlement programmes (principally Social Security and Medicare, the federally funded systems that provide, respectively, pensions and health care for the elderly) or basic changes to the tax system.

ECONOMIST: Why George Bush needs to be careful, rather than daring

Moreover, because it would be funded, the basic pension plus could be much larger than today's basic state pension: since 1979, the annual rate of return on private pensions was double that assumed by the government in drawing up its plans.

ECONOMIST: Tomorrow's pensioners

Labour said the current 50% limit on tax relief on pensions for the highest earners should be brought into line with the 20% level for basic rate taxpayers.

BBC: Labour urges temporary jobs for long-term unemployed