Cost of judges' pensions has doubled in five years

The cost to the tax payer of funding judges' generous pension schemes has more than doubled over the past five years, The Daily Telegraph reports. Figures put before Parliament by the Treasury show that the judicial pension pot rose from £62 million in the financial year 2004/2005 to £131m last year.

The cost is set to rise again over the current financial year by 16 per cent, to £151m. Like many public sector employees, judges are eligible for final salary schemes which are far more generous than defined contribution schemes held by most workers in the private sector.