A J C EVANS (You Say, April 9) would like to see state pensions linked once again to earnings.

On the face of it, this appears to be very fair. However, this was all very well when we lived for an average of three score years and 10 - but now we are living upwards of 10 years on top of this.

There simply isn't enough money in the "kitty" to allow this. Even Labour realises this and will hence not reintroduce the link.

Whatever one thinks of Mrs Thatcher, one must give her the credit for her foresight for breaking the link, however hard it seemed.

Why are France and Germany in so much trouble on their pension payments? Since breaking the link, everyone has been encouraged to pay into a private pension scheme and this country now has what is probably the best pension portfolio in the world.

One cannot get blood from a stone. Sorry, A J C Evans, but facts have to be faced.

E F SHOWELL,

Worcester.