We should look to our Scandinavian neighbours for inspiration on living

9:42am Friday 29th February 2008

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It is said that the measure of civilisation is how we treat our young and elderly.

The TV programme Heat or eat - the pensioners dilemma' highlights the tragedy facing some 1.2 million pensioners living alone on pension credit.

The conditions the programme shows were a disgrace to a modern state. Those shown in the programme either have a few hours of help from carers or none at all.

To pay for a carer from private agencies were beyond the means of those whose needs were greatest. There is little care provided by Social Services because of cuts by Government grants to local authorities.

The state of pensioners whose disabilites allowed them only meagre ways of helping to feed themselves. Hygiene was below what is needed to prevent disease from spreading. Any assessment by a social worker must be the lowest before the pensioner needs hospitalisation.

We now have a situation where an ailing bank is given 25 billion pounds of public money to put themselves back on their feet, while ailing pensioners are given crumbs.

Organisations like the National Pensioners Convention are fighting for a decent position that would enable them to pay for their own needs. Had we been paid increases in pension linked to skilled workers wages over the past 27 years our pensions would be compatible with those is Europe.

A country like Britain pours money into wars and paid out further billions to Trident. This weapon of mass destruction neither helps us nor saves the world.

Our eyes look at two countries - Norway and Sweden who neither spend money on wars or weapons of mass destruction but whose living standards and treatment of the young and old are the envy of the world.

C R Johnson, Rowley Regis