I HAVE read with interest the Government's long overdue proposals to increase the state retirement age.

I also noted with some annoyance a young woman's recent comments on "today's youth having to keep growing numbers of pensioners". As a pensioner I object to that assumption.

Like most people of my generation, I left school aged 15. The next day I started my first job. In addition to being a cookery trainee, I did two evenings at night school to add to my academic qualifications.

With the exception of two brief breaks to have my children, I worked an average 12-hour day throughout my working life until retiring at 60, after which I started a variety of largely voluntary work.

Compare this with the experience of today's school or college leaver, of 16, 19, 21 or even older. We also now have facilities for lifetime learning, which again takes people out of the full-time working world and the need to contribute to the state system.

Under this system, and maintaining the retirement age at 60, it is impossible for a school leaver to contribute to the state system in the way that most people of my generation did.

I would not wish today's young people to face the hardships I did. I also believe the progress in education has been hugely beneficial to people of all ages, but it does have to be paid for, one way or another.

So flexibility, please, Mr Blair.

Liz Edge,

Parkside Close,

York.

Updated: 10:25 Wednesday, November 23, 2005