SIR – Max Hey is right to be fearful of the withdrawal of certain pensioners’ allowances (Letters, February 17).
On a recent BBC Question Time, a panel member warned pensioners “not to get used to heating allowances, free bus passes and TV licences”.
Presumably the resulting revenue could then be squandered on some Canute-like crusade beloved of people of this ilk.
From another quarter it is suggested that these benefits be incorporated in the state pension with no mention of corresponding increases in tax allowances. Clearly this is a case of “creative accounting”; rob Peter and keep it!
Given that retired people contribute more than ten per cent of their heat and power bills to the Exchequer, in addition to income tax on sometimes modest private pensions and investments, “pensioner bashing” would be political suicide. We number in the millions!
Mr Cameron assures us that we are a “wealthy nation”, so we pensioners should have no worries over our futures, should we?
E Dunn, Trenam Park Drive, Thackley
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