Public incentives

Alex Salmond tells the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) that when private sector staff are taken into the public sector they should become subject to public sector norms.

These will be the norms where final salary pensions with values anything between five and ten times the level of contributions made remain in force. Where retirement age is 60 and where generous early retirement packages still abound. Where MPs are "entitled" to receive an index-linked pension of 50 per cent of their salary after only 20 years.

Where absenteeism is 50 per cent higher than in the private sector and where both central and local governments operate a policy of no compulsory redundancy.

I am sure that the FSB will have many members who would be more than delighted to be subject to public sector norms.

DAVID F DONALDSON

Lawers Crescent

Polmont, Falkirk