Ministers are being called upon to explain how thousands of retired public sector workers face a cut in their pensions after a huge overpayments blunder.
Liberal Democrat Treasury spokseman Vince Cable raised the issue in the House of Commons yesterday after receiving a tip-off that Xafinity, which delivers about 5% of public sector pensions, has been overpaying some pensioners for years.
Ex-military personnel and NHS staff are among those caughtaffected, although the government has confirmed that repayments were “not going to happen”.
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Chancellor Alistair Darling said yesterday: “It will be necessary to adjust what’s paid for the future. It does need to be put right from next year.”
The Cabinet Office is expected to release a statement this morning.