THE recent letters from both E Skelding and D Haden, have again highlighted the shortcomings of the present approach to pensions by this government.

However, we should not be surprised, as we have a Chancellor who has removed £5bn a year, every year, from our pension funds since his tax change ten years ago.

We are told of the necessity to link the increase in pensions to increases in earnings, yet we are to wait until 2012 for any action.

We have a new pension scheme, due to start in 2012 which, as I have pointed out before, will actually be detrimental to a number of people as they will lose more in benefits than they gain in pension, and a recent Budget which we can now all see was little more than smoke and mirrors, probably requiring yet another increase in bureaucrats just to administer the complexity of his ever expanding tax credits.

Behind the scenes, yet another pension review is progressing (and being fast tracked with only a month for consultation), to consider removing the requirement to index pensions in payment.

Probably this will not apply to existing payments as it could well be illegal under European Law, but future pensioners beware as your payments will steadily erode in value.

As you will now be required to work longer before reaching state pension age, this may not be a problem as you may not be around for long to receive your pension, after your eventual retirement (is this the government's secret solution to the problem?). Where is our representative in all this? Doubtless she continues to support, agree with etc, various other matters reported each week, but on every request for a clear reply to her constituents on exactly where she stands on helping pensioners, and what she will do, we hear nothing.

Always silence, so I issue the challenge to our MP once again: you were elected to look after the needs of your constituents, let us have a clear reply and an open public debate. If not, then readers, draw your own conclusions, and while we are still a democracy (just), remember the above when you next use your vote.

C Westwood Pedmore