10/05/06

There is widespread agreement something needs to be done. It is crucial that local residents - whose working lives and retirements will be directly affected by decisions on pension reform - have their say. The future of our pensions system is too important to be decided by politicians and academics alone.

Age Concern Teesside believes radical reform is urgently needed. Future generations must be protected from poverty in retirement and women, carers and those on a low income deserve a fair deal.

But it is essential that current pensioners and those approaching retirement are not forgotten. The basic state pension must be increased to a decent level, at least £109 per week, and maintain its value over time.

Our MPs and the Government must listen carefully to what people think.

Age Concern Teesside is to establish a pensions reform forum so people of all ages can contribute to the debate. If you would like to become involved, contact Age Concern Teesside on (01642) 805500. - Dave Punshon, Chief Executive, Age Concern Teesside.

WHAT NEXT?

I AM 25 years old and unemployed. I have been so for five months. Having applied for between 20 and 30 different positions in that time I am becoming increasingly disheartened.

As someone who didn't always see eye-to-eye with their previous boss, I find it staggering that one clash of personality can have so much effect on a relatively young man's employment prospects. I am talking about the fact that I am not confident enough to put down my last employer as a character reference.

I have no valid excuse for not doing so other than the fact that we just simply did not like each other. Does that make me a bad employee incapable of hard work? I think not.

I would give anything to return to my first place of employment knowing what I know now about the difficulties of finding work after burning a few bridges.

But, alas, it is an impossible scenario. And so, as I head seemingly onto the scrapheap of life without a part-time course at college to cling on to, I ask for advice. What next for me, the lost boy? - George Benson, Bishop Auckland.

FOREIGN CRIMINALS

IT never ceases to amaze me how often humanitarians, humanists, etc, can be quite casual about the importance of individual human lives.

I refer to the curious, if illuminating, letter of Pete Winstanley (HAS, Apr 29) about the foreign criminals released on to our streets through Home Office negligence.

Mr Winstanley seems to be saying: so what? We produce thousands of our own rapists, muggers, etc, so 1,000 extra foreign ones won't make that much statistical difference. He seems quite unperturbed by the issue.

My own view is that even one life destroyed or devastated through this official incompetence is one too many.

The fact is that any innocent human life is of infinite worth and preferable in the extreme to that of rapists, murderers, etc, foreign or home-grown - and if Mr Winstanley can't see that, I have to question the whole basis of his value system and wonder where he gets his priorities from. They are certainly not those of the British public. - Tony Kelly, Crook.

INDEPENDENT COUNCILLORS

IN reply to Joan McTigue (HAS, May 6), I would like to point out that I would not discourage anybody to stand as an Independent candidate in the local elections. I was highlighting the fact that they should do some research into their local major parties first.

All major parties have local offices and it is local people running them, so why not join one that suits so that you can make a difference? They are full of people with experience and advice who can help and assist you in working as a good councillor and I am sure that fresh blood and great ideas from caring people is what they are looking for.

A lot of people are disillusioned with politics and think they can't make a difference. But in order for a party to get it right, move on from mistakes and make good the future of Great Britain, it is right to get behind a party and have an input and be involved.

I am sorry if I upset any Independent councillors - that was not my aim. However, I feel I must point out that even though Joan McTigue spent less than £200 on her campaign, that is still a lot of money and a lot more than some can afford to spend on an election campaign. - Julie Jones, Hurworth, Darlington.

QUESTION OF CHOICE

IT seems that the American and British governments have deemed it necessary that Iraq should be ruled by a democratic government, but do all nations want a government of this type?

I recall that in Saudi Arabia, when the price of petrol increased, there was much annoyance among the people and many complained to the King. He immediately told the garages to reduce the price of petrol or the army would take over. Petrol returned to its original price.

One of my Arab friends asked me if the Queen of England could do that. I had to say: "Not even the elected government could put the price of petrol down, but they normally put it up."

So, in a country like Saudi Arabia, they would not want a democratic government as they seem to be happy just having a ruler King, as did this country and most European countries in the past. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill, County Durham.

WOODHOUSE CLOSE

I WOULD like to compliment the Auckland Youth and Community Centre on the monthly publication of its Woodhouse Close News. It is beautifully set out and its information is extremely well worded and easily understood.

There is certainly a lot going on for the children, teenagers and adults in this area. The facilities going on both in the centre and the church are second to none. It also gives information on what is happening at the Henknowle Community Centre.

Well done to John Raw, Neighbourhood Watch liaison officer, on his monthly report. Both of these publications are hand-delivered to every house on the estate, which we greatly appreciate. - David Johnson, Bishop Auckland.

BE WARNED

WE in the Liberal Party would like to congratulate Tony Blair on his choice of Dr John Reid as the new Home Secretary.

Who could be better to further suppress our liberties and implement the legislation which will create a surveillance and database state than a former member of the Communist Party.

Dr Reid will find out, as did his predecessors, that when he attempts to further curtail our liberties they will be defended. We in the Liberal Party do not wish to see Britain become a Stalinist Utopia, even if this Government does. - Daniel Wood, Chair of the Policy Committee, The Liberal Party, Warrington, Cheshire.