The creation of Lord Hutton’s independent Public Services Commission to examine the sustainability and affordability of public sector pensions is welcome – and long overdue.

For all the high-profile debate on the subject, the fact remains there is no consensus on a vision for public sector pensions. We need an independent body to make recommendations that are fair to workers and taxpayers, while taking account of the fiscal challenges facing the UK. Tough decisions have to be made, bearing in mind the cost of the public sector pension burden, but they need to be fair.