SIR – I was one of your readers who attended the meeting to speak to Nick Clegg and was the first to be asked to put a question to him.

My question was concerning present day pensioners who will be excluded from receiving the new flat-rate pension when it comes into effect on the grounds that it would not be affordable.

I pointed out to him than many present-day pensioners started work at 12, 14 and 16, paying national insurance and income tax all their lives, and yet money can be found to give all sorts of benefit to people who have contributed nothing; the cost of all these benefits far outweighing the cost of giving equality to present day pensioners.

Although he did not actually answer the question on affordability, I had to admire the way he spent several minutes quoting percentages and statistics which would be to pensioners’ advantage without seeming to draw breath.

It was certainly most interesting.

E M Baxter, Hoyle Court Road, Baildon