It can now afford to be seen to be generous, people will say, and it will be urged to offer the rebels a ceasefire and the chance of reviving the peace accords negotiated in 1994.

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But if governments want people to be more generous, can they do much about it?

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We should offer an example of moral leadership in the world, committed to treat people humanely, abide by the rule of law, and be generous and caring to our neighbors.

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If they were considered income with no corresponding deduction, people with the highest income would not be able to be generous.

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Mr Osborne told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that the "generous" flat-tier pension would be "a huge boost for people who want to save for their retirement".

BBC: Budget 2013: What might be in it?

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Tessa Jowell agreed that the cost of the redundancy scheme needed to be reduced and currently provides "overly generous and disproportionate benefits for some very highly-paid people".

BBC: Superannuation Bill part 1