It said that it would examine pension funds that have not shown they can close deficits within ten years, but reiterated that this was not an inflexible rule.

Monetary targeting for them was more of an inflexible rule which had to be constantly changed depending on factors in the economy, such as growth etc.

The bureaucracy's inflexible rules have given way to common sense.

But the schemes have attracted criticism for their inflexible rules and complex eligibility criteria.

However, many companies stuck with the old, inflexible rules.