THREE cheers for D Hall of York, who tells us (Letters, February 12) that she and her husband have paid a combined total of 90 years of tax and NI contributions.

They have, therefore, more than earned any so-called ‘free’ entitlements they may have to bus passes and the like.

Nothing in life is free, and Mrs Hall and her husband – like so many others – are entitled to what they receive, in the same way that pension is legally regarded as ‘deferred salary’, which can only remain the same or be upgraded, but cannot be reduced or taken away.

Mr and Mrs Hall and I, among thousands of others, worked in times of relatively high employment. Having contributed fully to ‘the kitty’, we expect to receive our entitlement when we are no longer working.

This is in contrast to those who have either never sought work and therefore never contributed to ‘the kitty’; and those more recently who cannot find work and have therefore been deprived of the chance to contribute.

Unfortunately, these last two groups will still expect something from ‘the kitty’ into which (for completely different reasons) they have never paid.

Richard M Billinge, Heworth Village, York.