MY husband and I are both on the retirement pension, but in view of Nick Holt's remarks (Letters, February 8), I wonder how he is going to save for his old age, if he can't afford to warm his house now while he is working.

Paying taxes is not something that has just started for his generation. We paid ours while we were working and we didn't earn big money, but had to pay our mortgage and things the same as him.

In another 30 years or so maybe someone else will be writing a letter on the same theme as Mr Holt's and, by then, he will probably be of pension age himself and may understand how we feel insulted by his remarks.

Some older pensioners lost their partners in the war and were left to bring up a family. I don't complain or carp - I just thank God my family has more respect than Mr Holt seems to have.

Will he go and get his pension when he reaches 65, or will he not want to be a burden on the young taxpayer of the day?

R ASHTON. (Full address received)

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