Letter: Pensioners

Sir: Having decided that 18- to 21-year-olds need a minimum of pounds 105 a week to live (based on a 35-hour working week), will Mr Blair now agree that pensioners, guaranteed a means-tested pounds 75 a week (or pounds 116.60 for a couple), also require at least that amount, and probably more as their needs may be greater?

Does he realise that approximately 7 million pensioners are now living in poverty as defined in the Treasury report published at the end of March?

CLIFFORD FULLER

Gloucester