Pensions and an unfair ‘temporary’ tax

Sir, – “The cost of living crisis has galvanised the demand for big tax cuts, such as the abolition of the USC” (“Majority want USC to be scrapped in October’s budget”, Business, June 4th).

The pension-related deduction (PRD) was introduced in March 2009.

It was a “temporary” tax on the salary of any serving public service employee having a public service pension entitlement. It was renamed the additional superannuation contribution (ASC) in 2019 which simply meant that it became a permanent tax.

Like the USC, surely the ASC should be abolished? Along with helping with the cost of living crisis it might (although by itself it is unlikely) contribute to alleviating the current public sector, recruitment and retention crisis. – Yours, etc,