AS representatives of South Ribble OAP's Association, which now has more than 650 members, we would like to challenge the statements made by our constituency MP David Borrow in an article about the forthcoming increase in the state pension (Citizen, February 10).

Pensioners will only receive a 1.1 per cent increase which amounts to 73p a week for a couple and 42p for a single.

We feel that statements such as that made in the article are grossly misleading. We have received many calls from our members who appear to think they are all going to receive a rise of £5 each week for a couple and £3 for a single. The figures quoted appertain only to those pensioners on Income Support. Out of 12-million pensioners in the UK only one million are eligible for Income Support. We would like to know the definition of a poor pensioner in the eyes of the figures being issued by David Borrow and central government.

Those pensioners who are just above the Income Support level are estimated at being some £50/£60 a week worse off than those who are on Income Support by virtue of the fact that when one takes into consideration free rent; no council tax, and all of the other anomalies which are available to Income Support recipients, then we consider that the poor pensioners are those who are not on Income Support.

We would also like to know how the figures of £20-a-week for a couple and £16-a-week for single pensioners are arrived at, if you take the average sum of £100-a-year fuel allowance plus £105 for a television license (for those over 75 only) on a weekly basis, this could only possibly amount to £9 a week for a couple and approximately £7 for a single pensioner.

If David Borrow really feels that he wishes to assist all pensioners, then we are strongly of the opinion that he should be vigorously lobbying his ministers in Westminster, for the restoration of the link which was broken in 1980 by the previous government whereby pensions were assessed on earnings and not on inflation.

W A Coupe (secretary)

St Annes Road

Leyland

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