Letter: In Brief

Sir: Last Saturday you reported the Prime Minister's statement that he intends to renew at the next general election Labour's pledge not to increase income tax rates during the current Parliament. Some months ago, among other proposals which the Government was considering for the future was one to reduce the state pension of those whose income was higher than some minimum.

This manoeuvre would, of course, be indistinguishable from an increase in the income-tax rates of pensioners, and the Government surely cannot implement it as long as the pledge remains valid.

BRIAN TAYLOR

Salisbury