NI contributions

JANE HARDING (Money Mail) is said to be devastated at the prospect of having £32.95 deducted from the new £155.65 pension.

However, since she paid reduced NI contributions for 18 years, it would be unfair to those who had paid the full NI contributions if no deduction were made in her case.

Moreover, her being contracted out while working for her local council will mean, I feel sure, that she will have a local government pension appreciably more than the £32.95 which will be deducted from her state pension.

I can understand many women being disappointed at having to work longer than they once expected, but the injustice of women being able to retire at 60 when men have to wait until 65

and beyond even though women had a greater life expectancy, could not be expected to continue for ever.

HOWARD CURNOW,

Lifton, devon.