THE recent letter from Maureen J Woodward, and the announcement of her campaign for pensioners in prison, may at first look very genuine, but, when analysed, it is totally false.

The letter is very clearly political and, at best, a back door swipe at our Labour Government.

I am an OAP and receive £77 per week. I don't smoke and drink very little. So I find it sufficient for food, clothing and utility bills, but not for holidays, entertainment or socialising. I have other income to cover that; I therefore receive no other benefit. If I had no other income of any kind, then I would be receiving £98.10 per week, increasing by £4 on April 7 to £102.10 minimum income, guaranteed by the New Labour Government -- a fact that many people tend to forget. They also forget that it was Mrs T who linked pensions to inflation.

It was interesting to note from Mrs Woodward's letter no mention of any alternative deterrent. This would give me a licence to go out to steal to order, in the full knowledge that I could not be punished.

Pardon me, but I don't know of any country in the world that exempts pensioners from prison. Pensioners in prison are not just put there for nicking a loaf of bread. Some are there because they have lived a life of crime. Others, because they blow their pensions on wrong things, such as dope, drink and gambling, then go shoplifting in the pretence that it is to subsidise their pension.

Arthur Devlin

Glynn Street

Farnworth, Bolton