Pension inequality

SIR – The research by the Taxpayers’ Alliance indicating that public-sector pensions are worth three times those of private-sector workers (report, August 27) comes as no surprise.

Three years ago, Chris West, who was at that time president of the Society of Municipal Treasurers, said that local government pensions were “unaffordable and unsustainable … And almost no one feels able to say so”. The same applies to all central government pensions, which are unfunded (that is, the taxpayer foots the bill).

Meanwhile, the Government has the audacity to accuse sick pensioners of being an unaffordable burden on taxpayers.

Bill Parish Bromley, Kent

SIR – It is high time that all publicsector pensions were abolished, and the money used to provide a proper state pension that people can actually live on.

Those wishing to supplement this with a private pension scheme would be free to do so, at no further cost to the state.

Ian Statham Cheltenham, Gloucestershire