The strange response from Andrew Martin (Echo, Nov 5) saying I had made a “vociferous attack on means testing” and that I had “missed the point” in my letter of Nov 3 indicates that he did not fully grasp its content of that letter, as he then goes on, in a further muddled way, to agree with much of what I had said.

As you say, and I agree Andrew, universal benefits should cease.

There would be no need for additional “freebies”, or other “pension top ups”, if one could live on the Basic State Pension. In 2015 one cannot.

My argument is that Successive administrations, from the 1970s, all fully aware that, as a nation, we were heading for a pensions crisis, failed to grasp this thorny issue. An issue further compounded when, in 1981, Mrs Thatcher broke the state pension link with earnings. Since when the value of the BSP has declined ever more rapidly year on year.

You again agree with me when you say that the “Grey Vote” is being bought off with “freebies”, but offer no thoughts on how to solve the “pension problem” might be solved.

Surely, as I said, there has to be a compulsory scheme into which all in work contribute.

On retirement a government-backed universal BSP that you can live on will be paid, as now, gross. This pension will then be added, as now, to all other income and tax paid on the total.

If the Tax Free Allowance is then set at a fair rate and raised year on year, in line with the cost of living index, then a return to “freebies” will not be needed.

If, Andrew, you do have an alternative solution to the “pension problem” then please share it with us.

RODNEY BEST

Doncaster Road

Weymouth