Letter: Why the population prefers pensions

Sir: Your findings that the population at large is more keen on universal pensions than on universal child benefit ('Means- tested pensions rejected', 11 October) are hardly surprising. The result is surely a reflection of the fact that there are many middle- aged or elderly people who still expect to draw a pension but never expect to draw child benefit again. In contrast, there is nobody for whom the reverse is true.

For this population the questions can be summarised as 'do you want to give yourself lots of money' and 'do you want to give someone else lots of money', with entirely predictable results.

Yours etc,

RICHARD BOSTOCK

London, SE10

11 October