The Government should ensure that public service schemes, along with a full state pension, deliver at least adequate levels of income for scheme members.

Nevertheless, the national service scheme was suspended in 1960, due to the large amount of resources required to administer it.

British Gas has a range of regular service schemes which are well worth checking out.

The national service scheme had been reintroduced in 1951, however it was suspended once more in 1960.

Major problems might lie ahead for the 'enabling' health service schemes, if they were not complemented by new local authority back-up services.

The new civil service scheme should cost no more than 20.8% of salaries, with staff paying 5.6%.

If the pension scheme rules allow it you may also be able to put money into someone else's occupational or public service scheme.

In the civil service scheme, the accrual rate will now be 1/44ths, he says.

There were no negotiations today over the civil service scheme, with unions leaders meeting to decide their next move.

According to the report, public service schemes paid out £32bn in 2008-09, which was about two-thirds of the cost of the basic state pension.