THOSE approaching pensionable age may wish to be aware of a recent announcement greatly to their disadvantage made by the Government.

In fact, as the information was made on the same day as the opening attack on Iraq, few people will be aware of it.

An estimated 20 million people are affected by a 50per cent cut in widows' and widowers' entitlements to SERPS.

Although contributions have been made to SERPS, and one would think that the benefits have been secured -- as they've been paid for -- this is not so.

Instead of increases being made in line with inflation, as the state retirement pension has, the SERPS pension will be reduced by steps of 10 per cent progressively, until the year 2010, when it will have been reduced by half. Women who believe they are in for a reasonable standard of living during widowhood, are to be step-by-step, reduced to penury.

In addition, some of those affected are legally entitled to compensation, provided of course, they make a formal application.As this information too was released on the same day, few applicants are expected. The Labour MPs who voted through the above, also voted to top up their own pensions.

Not from their own earnings of course, but from the public purse, and costing the taxpayer several millions of pounds. I wonder if they got their brilliant idea from our Labour/Lib Dem councillors in Blackpool, who have given themselves (but not the opposition) massive allowances and at the same time, inflated the town's rates' bill by 45 per cent over three years. (Well, fanciful rewards have to be paid for.) In spite of all this, I'm sure that our Labour decision-makers are competent, trustworthy and honourable, and so richly deserve their reward at the elections. Those who are still working don't escape from Labour's largesse either. Instead of increasing income tax, and thereby ensuring that those who are better able to afford a reduction in take-home-pay, they put the weight on the shoulders of the less well off, by using National Insurance stamp, to be raised by 10 per cent.

One group however, will be hit particularly hard. I refer to those women whose income is so low that they do not pay the 'full stamp.' They are to see a rise of twenty six per cent in N.I. deductions from their wages, without any extra benefits of course.

It takes a great deal of money to pay for Labour's failed 'law and order' policies together with their immigration policy. We know how they are being paid for.

I wonder if it will go against Labour at the May elections!

Peter Roscoe

Address supplied