‘This hasn’t really helped old people’

His wife, Margaret, is a 68-year-old retired GP.

The couple, who live on the banks of the River Nidd in Knaresborough, felt there was little in yesterday’s statement for older people.

“There was some good points, for instance the increase to the basic state pension, and the postponement of the rise in fuel duty will also help,” Mr Plowman said.

“That is a big problem for older people living in rural areas in North Yorkshire who need to travel around the place.

“I’m glad they are now starting to look to try and help young people to find jobs – that is something which is long overdue.

“But otherwise this budget hasn’t really helped things at all.

“The big problem we have had is there has been so much financial pressure on local authorities and the Primary Care Trusts and they have had to cut and reduce their grants.

“That has put a huge pressure on local volunteers working in organisations such as Age UK.

“This hasn’t helped that at all.

“Also the higher retirement age that has now been announced may not affect people who have already retired, but it does affect our children.

“Everybody appreciates the global financial problems have not been a good thing for this country at all in recent years.

“Older people are probably going to be philosophical about it, we realise the Government has financial problems and that to some extent we have to grin and bear it. But I don’t think this Government has really done anything to help older people.”