The pension fund for assembly members pension fund has fallen short

Contributions to the pension funds of AMs have been raised from 18.5% of their salary to 23%.

That is still less than MPs get, but more than Members of the Scottish Parliament.

AMs currently pay 6% of their salaries towards their pension.

But, for the past two months, taxpayers have been paying almost four times more than that into the scheme.

The increase follows a review of the fund which discovered a shortfall of almost �500,000.

The move has been attacked by former staff at the Cardiff-based steelmaking firm ASW, who lost most of their pensions when the company closed.

One ex-worker, Christopher Keating, said the increase beggared belief.

"Within days of them being elected, they have decided to increase their own pension contributions from the public purse," he said.

"It's quite scandalous, really."

'Unfavourable returns'

The official who recommended the rise - the deputy government actuary - said the deficit was the result of "unfavourable investment returns".

There had been higher than expected increases in AMs' pay as well as "adverse experience in relation to deaths and ill-health".

An assembly spokeswoman said the review was standard practice, and the increase followed similar measures by BT and the Royal Mail in recent months.

Some benefits will also be increased from November. The lump sum for death in service will increase from three times annual salary to four, and unmarried partners of former AMs will also qualify for pensions.

But former ASW worker Mr Keating told BBC Radio Wales that he had been canvassing for Labour AMs in the recent election, and such increases explained why so many people did not vote.

However, MPs have a far better deal on pensions than AMs.

Contributions from the taxpayer to the MPs' fund are 24%. The MPs' fund also works on the basis of 1/40th of final salary per year in service, which is more generous than the 1/50th rule for AMs.

Local authority employees, for example, receive only 1/60th of their final salary.