will there still be the option to commute part of the pension into a larger tax free lump sum post apr 2015?
Yes having read through the DIN my understanding is that anything accrued before 2015 is the same after so if you have served 19 yrs of a 22 yr engagement in 2015 and then serve 3 more years in 2017 you will get 19/22 of your pension including the ability to commute with the last 3 years under the new scheme payable at some time to be decided.
Whilst I have no intention of spending my entire Friday evening/weekend looking at the DIN I do have access to it and have read it so if anyone who can't get sight of it and has any basic questions I will try and oblige.