When reaching the final pension percentage figure of basic pay you have to add to the actual pension a figure of 1/3 of terminal grant. This is how the treasury works out the final percentage to then calculate if anyone who has subscribed to an AVC or FSAVC breaks the 66% limit on final salary. However I am told that anyone in receipt of additional, taxable pay, at retirement can use this real earnings figure to have a pension of 66% using the income from self funded schemes. Doesn't change the fact that ideally all pay should be pensionable by the employer.
Problem is that although there are very strict laws on max. contributions and final pensions etc. there are no laws dictating what an employer has to provide. Normal companies send details of the employment package/pension scheme disability/sickness schemes to prospective employees with the offer of employment. If the company doesn't offer a good package then they won't get the people. Who thought about the retirement package or were even told about it when they applied to join the Military?