IT manager Jim O'Rourke wanted to see more in the Budget allowing his family to benefit from his pension.

The 59-year-old, from Glasgow, is beginning to look at his pension options and said while the decision to scrap the 55 per cent tax charge for accessing annuities might be welcomed by those already retired, he would have liked to have seen more done to help those considering drawing down on their pensions ahead of retirement.

The father-of-two, a technical services manager at St Enoch Shopping Centre in Glasgow, said: "Like most people my age, I took my pension out when I was in my early 20s and now I'm coming up to 60 I'm beginning to think more about my options.

"I'm looking at whether or not I should be drawing anything down and trying and invest it in other ways.

"I've read a few booklets on it now and I think, really, whatever way you look at it, the taxman gets you either way.

"The main thing that concerns me is that if something happened to me, my wife would only get a percentage of what I'd put in.

"At certain levels you can draw down slightly without paying too much tax, but if you want to do more than that it's a problem.

"I was looking to see if something would maybe come out to help me there but it hasn't.

"I feel that things need to be more family orientated so that I know if something happens to me, they won't lose out."

Mr O'Rourke welcomed both the increase in ISA allowance and personal tax allowance, claiming these could benefit him if he decides to withdraw money from his pension.

He said the ISA would allow him to save more that way, while the new flexible ISA, which allows cash to be removed and replaced the same year without losing out on allowance, would offer him and his wife a great deal of flexibility.

He added that the increase in the 40p personal tax threshold could also allow him to withdraw more from his pension without having to pay the higher tax level.