I WOULD like to congratulate Eileen Barton for the insight written about the USAF. She is more than right on her comments. There is no point giving benefits to those who already benefit from higher standards of living already such as the USAF regardless

I WOULD like to congratulate Eileen Barton for the insight written about the USAF. She is more than right on her comments.

There is no point giving benefits to those who already benefit from higher standards of living already such as the USAF regardless of SOFA, the agreement written in 1947 which was never ratified by the British government, it does not stipulate any benefits allocated to the sending state (USAF) from the British coffers. Tax exemptions are one of these benefits, but then any tourist in this country will benefit from those on a short-term basis.

I am a pensioner living on my pension and pension credit, a disgraceful sum for an individual to live in a reasonable standard. After I raised the issue of housing I was finally allocated a house after 12 years. I had to borrow money from the bank to decorate it to a standard supposedly given to all housing associations so that 'all social tenants have a decent home' by 2010. Of course, the word 'reasonable' and 'modern' standards fall within the interpretation of the individual company.

With £109 per week as a pensioner I can't even move to another European country to benefit from a lower cost of living that will give me a better standard of living, as my pension will not be paid.

Some individuals get all the luck and get benefits from both social backgrounds - the American and British. I recently met a British spouse of a military member who was allocated housing by Forest Heath within months of her husband retiring, he works on the base.

The Government should allocate better pensions for those individuals like me who would prefer to live with dignity/reasonable comfort but have no choice but to depend on their children for reasonable living, or to depend on other means to make the difference, as employing elder individuals without discrimination would open up different stressful situations including litigation.

MARY SCHMEDEMAN

West Drive Gardens

Ely