By Sarah Toyne BBC News Online personal finance reporter

The head of the National Association of Pension Funds is to criticise firms for their "herd behaviour" over the spate of final salary pension scheme closures during the last year.

Figures to be unveiled at the association's conference on Thursday will show that since June, 47 big and medium-sized companies have closed their final salary schemes to new members - twice the rate of last year.

Pensions have gone from being anorak territory to something avidly discussed in pubs and taxis

Christine Farnish, NAPF chief executive

Association chief executive Christine Farnish will tell delegates: "We have seen too much herd behaviour in the last year in the knee jerk lurch by some from final salary to pure money purchase."

Ms Farnish believes a "major drama has unfolded" since 1997, when Chancellor Gordon Brown changed the tax regime so firms could no longer enjoy a �5bn a year dividend tax credit.

She will also call on the government to "radically simplify" the state pension scheme - and give everyone an earnings linked universal pension "set at a level so all can live in decency".

Anorak issue

The conference on Thursday is just before the government releases its green paper on pensions.

"Pensions have gone from being anorak territory to something avidly discussed in pubs and taxis," Ms Farnish says.

The public now rank pensions fourth in terms of priorities for government after health, education, and law and order.

But "considerable bravery" is needed if pensions problems are to be tackled effectively.

The complexity of the state pension system will be one aspect that is singled out for criticism in her speech.

"It is hard to understand, relies increasingly on means testing and does not provide clear incentives for consumers to save for their old age."

Final salary schemes

This week, Ford motor company bucked the trend of recent closures, by announcing increased payments into employees' final salary pensions.

Ms Farnish will, in her speech, praise its decision.

It is important "to educate employers about the options available in terms of workplace pensions and the pros and cons of different alternatives," she will say.

Ms Farnish will also criticise the level of regulation that is affecting the industry - and wind-up rules, which can leave some workers with little or no pension.