DEPUTY Prime Minister John Prescott recently gave a commitment to early equalisation for all travel concessions at the same age, 60, for both men and women, which will require further legislation when parliamentary time allows.

He also said: "Existing legislation means that the age of eligibility for reduced travel fares would not otherwise be equalised until 2010 at the earliest, in line with national pensions." We think that is too long to remove this anomaly.

Important statements demand important answers from our Government and prospective parliamentary candidates:

1 When will the "early legislation to equalise concessionary travel ages" be enacted?

2 Will our MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates demand legislation is included in the first session of parliament after the General Election?

John Taylor,

York Organiser PARITY,

Dean Road,

Norton on Derwent, Malton.

...AS one of the many pensioners who, this year, will be sailing into the uncharted waters of the over 80s, in today's electioneering there is no reference by the three main parties to the abysmal 25p age addition to the basic state pension. Notwithstanding, 12 million pensioners are still smarting from the recent 75p insult.

The 25p should of course, be raised to a meaningful level of at least £20 per week, and payable at age 75. Huge support for this issue is well documented by Help the Aged, Age Concern, National Pensioners Convention, Association of Retired Persons Over 50, and local pensioners' forums in North Yorkshire.

Gordon Brown has £16 billion in reserve, along with a growing National Insurance fund. Our basic pension is the lowest in Europe, yet we are the fourth wealthiest country in the world.

David Hughes,

Scarborough Road,

Rillington, Malton.

...THE York Older People's Forum has organised an open meeting on the subject Older People, Transport, Mobility and Access attended by representatives of the City of York Council, First York, the National Federation of Bus Users and an independent travel consultant.

There will be a short presentation by each speaker and then the meeting will be open to questions and answers.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 12 at 2pm in Room 1, Central Methodist Church, St Saviourgate, York.

The meeting is open to all who live in the City of York Council area and are aged 60 or over.

This is an opportunity for readers to express their opinions to people who have a direct input to the organisations which affect their lives.

Derek Shaw,

Secretary YOPF,

River Street, York.

Updated: 10:41 Thursday, May 31, 2001