Letters - October 31
Poor state of affairs
On behalf of the Wyre Pensioners' forum I ask readers to call on the Government and all politicians to urgently recognise the needs and value of pensioners.
This would ensure that promises made in 2001 are implemented without delay so that by 2011 – 10 years after the promise was made – the State Pension will have reached 60 per cent of the national average wage.
The UK has the lowest state pension in Europe. Irish pensioners, immediately above us, receive at least 7 more each week.
For many years the state pension increased each year keeping pace with the national average wage. Since 1982 it has grown solely in accordance with the rate of inflation. This has led to 25 years without a meaningful increase in state pension, which in turn means that pensioners' standard of living has failed to improve noticeably over the past quarter of a century.
Following the Laeken European summit in 2001 the Commission reported that pensioners receiving less than 60 per cent of the national average wage were at risk of living in poverty. The UK Government signed a commitment ensuring that older people were not placed at risk of poverty and can enjoy a decent standard of living.
With the exception of the UK, all other countries are adhering to this undertaking, while the UK pension remains, as it stood in 2001, at 13.7 per cent of the national average wage.
It is a popular view that pensioners are a burden on society, but a global study by HSBC and Oxford University shows that in the UK they contribute 59 billion to the economy each year – 5.5 billion in tax, 4.2 billion in voluntary work and upwards of 50 billion in family care.
It is a fact that 1.4 million pensioners are known to be living in poverty. Many receive an income that excludes them from seeking financial help from the state.
UK pensioners are subject to means tests unlike their European counterparts. This is a demeaning system of determining entitlement in this age of enlightenment and human rights. They are in that grey zone where bureaucracy fails to acknowledge they exist, where people are stripped of their dignity and well-being and are left to quietly pass away. All the while our politicians continue to boast that our welfare state is the envy of the world.
TONY WARD
Meadows Avenue, Thornton
Damning indictment
WYRE MP Ben Wallace cannot control his Parliamentary expenses as is proved by the increase of 20,609 last year. An increase of 13.5 per cent on expenses, some of which are "controllable" is a damning indictment of a man who is supposed to represent the people of Wyre, an area with a large number of pensioners whose increase next year is going to be in the region of 3.9 per cent.
A breakdown of his costs for running two offices must include heating, lighting, council tax and staff wages.
As the first three are beyond his direct control perhaps he might explain how the pensioners and other poor people of his constituency are supposed to live with the same diabolical increases in expenses that he is having to pay for these items while getting a pittance of an increase.
Please don't come the old chestnut that Labour are controlling the pension purse strings because it was just the same when the Conservatives were in charge.
I am not yet a state pensioner but am very worried about becoming one.
DAVE MURTEN
Catterall
Badger cull is unacceptable
The proposals to kill badgers in order to control bovine tuberculosis (bTB) are unfounded, not supported by any reliable scientific evidence and are socially unacceptable in 2007.
Professor Sir David King has recommended to the Government that killing badgers will control bTB.
This control can be achieved by improving the cattle testing regime but this would cost farmers money.
Science shows that the primary source of infection for cattle are other cattle but this is of no interest to Prof King.
His recommendations are based on advice from Republic of Ireland where, after 30 years of badger culling, bTB is twice the level in the national herd compared to UK.
The level of bTB in Northern Ireland, where no badger culling takes place, is virtually identical to that in the Republic of Ireland.
BRYCE GOULDING
Poulton Road, Carleton
n The RSPCA is echoing the anger and dismay of top scientists provoked by a Government adviser's "outrageous and misinformed" call for a badger cull to reduce bovine TB (bTB) in cattle. Robust science has shown that a cull could have disastrous consequences for cattle and badgers alike, so leading experts are shocked by the stance of Government adviser Sir David King. His recommendation directly contradicts the most rigorous scientific study ever produced on the impact of badger-culling on bTB in cattle. Professor John Bourne – whose Independent Scientific Group (ISG) undertook the badger-culling study – has recently told a committee of MPs the King report appeared "hastily written" and
"superficial".
The ISG recommended cattle controls to reduce the spread of bTB. The resulting ISG report effectively rules out a badger cull, concluding that "badger culling can make no meaningful contribution to cattle TB control in Britain". To dismiss that and proceed with a cull would make a nonsense of the ISG research which took almost 10 years, cost the lives of more than 10,000 badgers and cost taxpayers 34 million. To help avoid a senseless badger cull write to your MP or write to the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State, Defra, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.
Alan Wolinski
RSPCA Regional Manager for the North
Caught by speed trap
Just off the M55 and down the dual carriageway on to Squires Gate Lane, there, sitting waiting is the mobile camera van ready to snap you.
Before a visitor's weekend holiday even starts you have already spent 60 without knowing it. Of course you won't know this until you get home.
I've been snapped twice already by the same van. I know two other people who have fallen for the trap as well. I was driving down the dual carriageway, a 40 mph zone, then as you go past the traffic lights it turns to 30 mph and before you have had time to slow down they have you on camera – and your fine is in the post.
I think it's sneaky, I think they should put a sign up saying mobile van in operation. I also think they should not be taxing people as they come into Blackpool because this is another reason not to come and we need all the trade we can get.
It is such a shame that many people who visited our lovely town in October will be left with a sour taste in the mouth and 60 less in the pocket.
ROGER TRETTON
Blackpool
A great evening
May I thank all the stars of the Barry Stott Concert which took place at the Little Theatre, Thornton on October 20.
It was a heart-warming professional performance – and the children were a delight!
Our gratitude to Barry for arranging everything and making it a memorable evening enjoyed by all our staunch supporters.
Many thanks also to the "back room" boys for their help and guidance on the night.
Norma C Hart
Hon Secretary, Thornton Cleveleys Committee
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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