'I have paid into the system all my life into this country's government' - Your Letters: April 4

I left school at 14 and started work the following week at 15 years old, full time. Started paying income tax, national insurance, superannuation. I was encouraged to take out a private pension for my "future benefit". Worked up till I was 65 and retired.

My future benefits do not exist. Private pension taxed out of existence, I can't claim cold-weather payments, warm homes benefit, free TV licence or anything I should be entitled to. Hot water bottles are my main source of heat. My electric bill has risen four times in as many months. Food prices also.

I have paid into the system all my life into this country's government. Now I see 1.5 million immigrants are on benefits. What have they paid in? I do hope they are warm at night, eat well, live without my problems, perhaps afford a car: live without any criminal acts as I have suffered, and thank themselves they are not a British tax payer!

Mr D V Griffiths, West Midlands

BUTCHER WILL BE SORELY MISSED

Award winning pie and sausage makers, Allan Bennet's Butchers in Codsall, is closing it's doors this weekend. We've bought dry cured bacon, sausages and pies, plus many other products since first shopping at Bennett's in Wednesfield many years ago. We were last served by Allan himself a few months back.

This butchers will be sorely missed. Apparently, they couldn't reach agreement with the landlords with regards to renewing the lease and that was that. End of an era.

Trevor Howard, West Midlands

EAR WAX CHARGE IS A RIGHT PAIN

As a resident in a care home I have just paid an optician £65 for wax to be remove by suction from my ears. This is the third time I have paid and I am now reading that syringing from an audiologist is permissible. What is going on? The GP surgery used to perform removal. What happened to change this?

Name and address supplied

BUDGET CHANGE DOESN'T ADD UP

The Chancellor is cutting welfare payments, but saying we needn't worry because she'll help claimants into work. But, hasn't she noticed: because of her NI tax hike - her 'tax on jobs' - the economy is flatlining. There just aren't the thousands of jobs she's encouraging claimants to go for. It just doesn't add up.

Chris Naylor, All Stretton

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