Almost everybody, including those commissioned by the government to make recommendations about state pensions, agrees that there has to be an adequate state pension linked to average earnings.

It would be just reward for a working life of contribution and loyal service to the nation for the retired, but also motivation and a source of responsibility and pride for those in work who pick up the mantel of providers from them.

The present system with its means testing is rooted in the Poor Law, paupers and living on the parish,and is demeaning now and totally non productive.

Why do Gordon and Tony pretend that we are not in a position to replace it with what almost everybody else believes is necessary ?

I suspect, because they rely on there being a large sustainable pool of hard-up pensioners providing jobs for all the people in the growing 'benefits industry'. If these were threatened the Civil Service Unions and Labour back benchers could inflict terminal damage on the government, already under fire on several fronts.

>From the cabinet table down, lawyers, accountants, commissioners, layers of central and local managers and civil servants out to the front desks of the local council finance offices, people work to make the system work efficiently and are frustrated.

It is deeply resented by those forced by their circumstances to submit to it. Many are prepared to suffer poverty rather than risk the shame of being seen as modern day paupers and reject their entitlement, leaving it unclaimed.

An army of investigators target potential benefit cheats and frauds backed by advertising and the latest computer systems, which require intensive training, while others attempt to persuade those who chose not to 'pick up what's theirs' from the millions of pounds doing no good at the treasury to anybody.

ALL THESE RESOURCES COULD BENEFIT THE WHOLE NATION MUCH BETTER IF WERE DIVERTED TO A MEANINGFUL NATIONAL PENSION. IT COULD BE THE SALVATION OF TONY AND GORDON BUT I DON'T THINK THEY WILL SEE IT THAT WAY.

Updated: 15:02 Thursday, December 08, 2005