THE present state pension is said to be 30 per cent of the current average income. It is also said that the government hope to reduce this amount to 20 per cent in future years.

This is in an attempt to fill the 'black hole' in state pension funds.

If this reduction comes about, it follows that people will have to save much more of their income to ensure that they will have a reasonable standard of living in old age.

How can it ever be thought a sane idea to want millions of pounds from the very people who will have to save more money? These millions will be needed in order to set up and operate an unnecessary, additional tier of regional government.

The conservative estimate of the setting up of such a chamber (according to national government figures) is £30million with annual running costs of £25million.

As an example of how 'airy fairy' the figures are, take a look at the Scottish example where the regional assembly building alone has run away with hundreds of millions of pounds above and beyond what was originally estimated and presented to the public as the true cost.

We in the North West of England do not need another tier of government to spend our money. What we need is money spent on schools and health not more government with less representation of the people.

We must vote a resounding 'No' when presented with the postal ballot on regional government in November.

ANTHONY HAWORTH, Pendleside Close, Sabden.