Should the triple lock on pensions stay?

MANY pensioners have, like me, paid their taxes and National Insurance, plus a little each week towards a company pension. Now Theresa May wants to punish us for having the forethought to secure our future. The ‘triple lock’ on state pensions will be removed if the Conservative Party reigns supreme in 2020. Mrs May should think again: if the older population is increasing, we hold the votes to secure her future at Downing Street. Instead of blaming the elderly for its failings, if the Government is ever going to reduce the welfare bill, it should be looking to cut how much it gives to foreign aid.

Mr C. GOODALL, Portsmouth. I Don’t understand why, when a person reaches retirement age but continues to work, National Insurance ceases to be taken. With longer life expectancies and more people working on, the income generated could be substantial, and should be used for Nhs/elderly care. If those with private pensions were levied, say, five per cent a year on that income as well as the usual income tax, this would help both them and the country. If a private pension was ‘cashed in’, a similar percentage should be levied. the state pension shouldn’t be touched under any circumstances unless it forms part of a person’s gross income. those of us who have saved, having had the good fortune to be able to do so, can see the merit in this. there can’t be a single person who wants the NHS to fail or wants to be left on a trolley in a&e.

R. I. A. GREEN, Malvern, Worcs. IT SEEMS the Government considers the pension ‘triple lock’, that will cost an extra £2.1 billion by 2020, unsustainable. The foreign aid budget, though, which is forecast to increase by £4.06 billion in the same period, is considered acceptable, despite endemic fraud and misuse.

RAY H. DOVER, Ingatestone, Essex.