AN article in the Advertiser (January 7) on the pension increase for April 2006 and a three per cent increase in council tax, gave the impression as Frank Avenell put it "the increase would be swallowed up by the council tax". This is a ridiculous statement.

The lowest increase with pension credit for a single person would be £170 a year, the tax increase would be £29.70 a year, £22.27 if the person lived alone.

For a married couple it would mean a £267 a year increase with again a £29.70 increase for a band C home over a year.

I know, as the article says, the cost of utilities is rising, although in real terms they are no dearer than they were 30 years ago, but it could be a lot worse.

In the 1993 Budget the Tories introduced eight per cent VAT on gas and electricity.

In the 1994 Budget Ken Clarke upped VAT to 17.5 per cent but, thanks to New Labour, it was defeated and he had to keep it at eight per cent.

Gordon Brown cut that to five per cent in 1997. How did Ken Clarke fill the hole in his budget? He brought in the Fuel Escalator. Remember?

M J WARNER

Malvern Road