I WONDER if the Government has ever considered that there just might be a link between the £5 billion pensions shortfall and Gordon Brown removing a similar sum from the national pensions fund when he took office?

It does, of course, have three solutions, all of which hit us, the taxpayer, hard:

1. Pay more tax.

2. Save more.

3. Work longer and harder.

If we left the European Union we would have £30 billion a year extra in the pot, more than enough to give everyone a decent standard of living at all ages, but particularly the over 60s.

G SCOTT

Okus Road