Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has pledged to press on with the Government's reform of the state pension, which would see an end to means testing and the imposition of a £140-per-week flat payment.

The changes will mean that mothers who want to stay at home to care for their children will no longer lose out for missing national insurance contributions when they collect their pension.

Duncan Smith outlined the plans in a speech to charity leaders today (8 March) and it is understood that full plans could be unveiled in this year's Budget.