The elderly should earn their pensions by doing voluntary work in their communities to avoid being a ?burden on the state?, a retired mandarin has suggested.
Lord Bichard, formerly head of the Benefits Agency, made the controversial suggestion at a House of Lords discussion on how to meet the costs of Britain?s ageing population.
Last night his plans were branded ?National Service for the over-60s? by angry pensioner groups.
The cross-bench peer, a former permanent secretary at the Department for Education, retired from the civil service at just 53.
His taxpayer-funded pension is estimated to be ?120,000 a year.
Retired people should have their pension docked if they refuse to do community work, says former mandarin (who retired from Whitehall aged 54) | Mail Online
Lord Bichard, formerly head of the Benefits Agency, made the controversial suggestion at a House of Lords discussion on how to meet the costs of Britain?s ageing population.
Last night his plans were branded ?National Service for the over-60s? by angry pensioner groups.
The cross-bench peer, a former permanent secretary at the Department for Education, retired from the civil service at just 53.
His taxpayer-funded pension is estimated to be ?120,000 a year.
Retired people should have their pension docked if they refuse to do community work, says former mandarin (who retired from Whitehall aged 54) | Mail Online

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