Congratulations to The Citizen (Cover story 10/10/03) for highlighting the indignity of the complicated new form that pensioners will need to complete to see if they are a bona fide member of the deserving poor.

It is scandalous that Gordon Brown has broken his promise to end means testing. Over five million pensioners will now be subjected to the indignity of this complicated new scheme, that will cost millions to administer and is likely to put many people off from applying.

The Tories are no better with their latest offer to reinstate the link between pensioners' income and earnings, as they plan to do this by cutting the benefits of some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in society.

Two-thirds of older people needlessly live under the poverty line. After a lifetime of service to our country, the least we can do is provide them with enough resources to live out their remaining life in dignity.

Currently there is £13.2 billion in tax relief being paid out to the minority of people who can afford a private pension. Redistributing this among state pensioners would increase the state pension by £23 a week, or 30%. This would alleviate disparities in pensioner income, and get rid of means testing. Britain has one of the richest economies in the world. There is no reason and no excuse for these massive income disparities.

Philip Booth, Press Officer, Gloucestershire Green Party