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Commenting on the Public Accounts Committee report The impact of the 2007-2008 changes to public service pensions published today, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'This report confirms what unions have been saying all along - that the reforms from a few years ago put public service pensions on a sustainable footing for the long term.

'Yet despite this, the government is looking to hike contribution rates to make short term savings and overhaul the schemes at the same time. It's no wonder that public service workers are anxious about the future of their pensions.

'The Public Accounts Committee makes a number of important points including asking for clearer information from the Treasury, calling for ministers to test whether reducing the value of pensions will make it harder to attract and keep good public service workers, and whether cuts to pensions will mean more people relying on means tested benefits in retirement. '

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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