I read with interest the letter in the Hampshire Chronicle of August 22 from Mike Biden. 

We are of the same age – though I will admit to being older than him and have lived in Winchester all my life. 

He seems to see the old world through rose coloured glasses as my memory is someone different to his.

I do not remember free school meals unless there were special circumstances. When I was at primary school the weekly charge was half a crown (2/6) and when my brother joined me the cost was 4/6. I remember free milk at Primary School (1/3rd of a pint if I remember) but, Margaret Thatcher – when she was Education Secretary stopped it (Thatcher the Milk Snatcher!) Secondary school children stopped getting free milk around 1968 and primary schools in 1971 (unless under seven years). University fees were generally free but subject to parental assessment – so if your parents income was above a certain level they had to make a contribution. University places were fought over stiff competition and many pupils did not go to university rather apprentices, or if taking higher education to college or polytechnic.

House prices were definitely cheaper when he and I got married. But we had interest rates as high as 15% to 16%. MIRAS was introduced in 1983 and by the time it was withdrawn (by Gordon Brown) in 2000 it was down to 10% relief. So it was short lived – 17 years.

Then we come onto pensions. Following Gordon Brown’s Budget in 1997 in which he raided pension schemes by taking away their ability to reclaim the tax credit on dividends – this single act resulted in the demise of the Final Salary Pension Scheme UNLESS you are in the Public Sector – Civil Service, Local Government, NHS etc where you still benefit (at the taxpayers expense as we pay the Employers Contributions). In my experience not many people employed in the private sector enjoy a final salary pension more likely an inferior defined scheme usually insurance based. There are many without private pensions of any kind or very small ones which makes them illegible for pension credit who will suffer. There are others, who because of medical conditions, have to keep their home really warm who are grateful of the Winter Fuel Allowance and are worried about the cost of fuel this coming winter with the cap about to raised. 

He then talks about those coming out of University saddled with debt. He fails to mention that most of this debt will never be recovered nor that if you have a real degree starting salaries being offered to graduates by some professional firms are at levels most of us could only dream about.

John Murray,
Burley Road,
Harestock 

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