I TOTALLY agree with Ian Gravestock (HAS, Apr 28) over teachers' pay. Like him, I am a Civil Service pensioner whose increase is 3.9 per cent.

However, on checking my new tax code, etc, my net pension is £7 per month less since Prime Minister Gordon Brown/Chancellor Alistair Darling scrapped the 10p tax rate.

Is this another example of the Government playing with figures at the expense of the pensioner.

Increase? What increase? Hats off to backbench Labour MP Graham Stringer for suggesting that Mr Darling's offers of compensation made last week were ambiguous.

Perhaps this week's local election results will jolt that gentleman into positive action to favour the lowerpaid workers/pensioners.

Anne Johnson, Durham.

NOW that the abolition of the 10p tax band has come into effect, there can be little wonder that Labour is trailing the Conservatives by 18 points in the opinion polls (Echo, Apr 25).

Because of this tax change people with occupational pensions are finding that their net payment has been reduced.

This is startling news for those who expect an increase in their pension every April.

The compensation package offered to those adversely affected is not good enough and there needs to be change.

Whatever successes the Government has had will be disregarded because of this single unpopular measure.

LD Wilson, Guisborough, East Cleveland.