Triple lock confusion

Sir, - It would be nice if the triple lock applied to the state pension as stated by Peter Swain (April 19). In fact, it applies to the basic state pension which is a very different animal.

Pension rules are too complex to go into in a small space but I suspect few pensioners will have benefited significantly from the triple lock which, if applied to state pensions, would have resulted in a 2.5% increase this year. My own increase was 1.8% (1.4% after tax) and for some, it could have been less.

I have no complaints about that in present circumstances but let us not pretend that the triple lock is anything other than a big con trick.

If replaced by a reasonable measure applied to the state pension instead of the basic state pension, we might even benefit. S. Urquhart. 2 Lily Wynd, Forfar.