That's OK to work untill age 70 providing the government stops paying incapacity benefits to scroungers.

Derek Hanney, Trowbridge, Wilts

Working to 70 is perfectly fine for some people who have good health and are not in a physically demanding job. But for those who are, they might start to feel some loss of self esteem if there younger colleague's have to share there work load has well own.

Clive, Dartford, Kent

I worked in the North Sea for many many years, I broke many bones , gashes and stitches over my body, now retired full of pain in all my joints.Not even enjoying a retirement due to this. I retired at 63 because my body could not take anymore abuse by the tough environment. 70,? no way. cant do it.

Captain Kong, Liverpool, England

Just like in France! Between 13 & 26, I did undeclared, P/T, and temporary jobs, which don't give credit for the basic state pension. Then 5 and a half years in a sweatshop (no company pension scheme & salary too low to contribute to1 myself). I need 42 years in F/ T work to claim full state pension

LN, Bristol,

Many older people would like to carry on working, but are denied promotion due to age or are edged out to make way for younger employees.

The only positive result is an increased number of volunteers for charities.

Society & employers must change attitudes if jobs at 65+ are to be realised.

Martin , Exeter, UK

Well, I'm 57 and I'm going at 60. All my friends seem to be doing the same thing. I'm going to have 35 years of fun!

ben foster, wokingham,

Alistair, get a grip of your self mate? How long do you think your going to live?

How long do you think you'll have to enjoy your retirement in good health?

Work all your life, paying off the government’s national deficit so you can sit in your garden at 70 and do nothing?

Wake up son!

Andy, North, England

I previously thought Brown's policy roadmap was 1984 but he seems to have taken his economic policy from Blackadder - "Seen it, pinched it, spent it".
Blackadder got out of debt by having Percy 'satisfy' the Bishop of Bath & Wells - Maybe we could do the same with Gordo?

Matt, Epping, England

Just as a matter of interest, when does Lord Turner intend to start work?

Robert, Hull, UK

How about creating a level playing field and making public secor workers retire later as well - and on the same pensions as the rest of us.

Michael Jeremy Cawood, Wrexham, Wales, UK

Why does the old music hall song come to mind? "It's the rich what gets the pleasure, it's the poor what gets the blame."

Kevin Straw, Leicester,

An article last week said today's children would die 11 years younger than their parents. This is good news - less longer living old age pensioners to support in 50 years time, so the retirement age can come down again and/or the value of the old age pension go up, as less old people to claim.

Dave, Newry, Co. Down, Northern Ireland

It is difficult for over 50 -yr olds to keep a job or find one, how on earth are they supposed to work until they are 70? Nearly 70-years scrambling around on scaffolding building houses, laying roads or hauling patients in and out of hospital beds? This is just short cut to lowering pensions.

j.Pr´´evost, Ratingen, Germany

Once again the myth that public sector pensions are "generous" is trotted out. Most public sector pensions pay 1/80th for each year of service while private sector final salary pensions usually pay 1/60th. Also many public sector workers are paid far less than in comparable private sector jobs.

Jeremy, Lincolnshire, UK

There you go! that stupid fool Brown has robbed our pensions of over £100billion and so we all have to work an extra five years. Just so he could stand at the dispatch box and crow about economic growth. That growth was built on unsupported debt and now look at the mess he created!

Well done! NOT

D Case, Newquay,

I work in the public sector and am 35yrs old. I think the retirement age for public sector employees should increase and I'd be happy to work to 70. Our generous pension is going to cause alot of financial problems and either we pay alot more or retirement age has to increase - now.

Alistair, London,

I have no doubt that statistics (in our World) can be made to fit the cause requried ... especially when money and Government is concerned.
However, the samples used are too narrow, too confined to be of any use.
Leave things as they are. Let people enjoy their declining years as they wish.

Phil Austin, RAUNDS, Albion

And just how many people will be fit enough to do anything much at the age of 70 -longer lives or not?

Jim, Peterborough,

The thing is that whatever the current HMG says any attempt to raise the retirement age is just a cynical attempt to extend the tax paying expectancy of the population. They have run out of ideas.
How about 'doing less' for the people (ie: personal resopsibility) as a way of reducing costs?

Phil Austin, RAUNDS, Albion