Pagey
you are of course quite correct in what you say. although it changes to 30 years in 2010 i think its a few years later that they up the age to 66. as you say if you have a private pension then your tax relief will be taken up with is.
that said why worry about it. i don't have a private pension. most of my money is in cash, in offshore banks. northern rock !!!!!!!!!!! why worry.???
mike