SIR - I am greatly indebted to and would like to thank Adam Cain for correcting the information I submitted regarding the £2,000 bereavement payments, which was given to me in good faith by a colleague, having read it in a local newspaper and having had it authenticated by our local Citizens' Advice Bureau. At least everyone should now be aware of what is available and to whom.

My colleague, Mr J Larner, has now passed on to me some further information regarding the ongoing struggle for pensioners to keep the current pension payment book as a method of drawing their pension from their local post office.

An article has appeared in the financial section of a Sunday newspaper concerning this preference rather than being forced to use the proposed direct payment or the digital keyboard with pin numbers. The government has admitted it cannot force millions of pensioners into giving up their pension books and opening an unwanted bank account.

The report says a government briefing note recently sent to MPs revealed pensioners who ignored instructions to adopt any change would continue receiving their pension at post offices.

The Department of Works and Pensions had insisted it would move all those who receive state benefits to direct payments by next April but so far three million people told to switch, including many pensioners, have refused to do so and the government has conceded that those opposed to change for whatever reason would automatically be switched to a "paper-based alternative".

They will not at the moment go the whole way to confirm the retention of the pension book and darkly hint at a giro type cheque issued weekly that can be cashed at the post office branches in the same way as pension books - what a huge waste of money. Pension books must be cheaper, the government just cannot bring themselves to admit it.

The Royal National Institute for the Blind has already said that cheques are less attractive than the current tried and trusted pension book. Payment cheques could be lost in the post or arrive late.

We should insist that the government, just for once, listen to three million of us (probably more) and retain the pension book. Grit your teeth, remember who voted you into power to serve us and do the honourable thing.

Mind you, because they have had to make this U-turn no doubt the government will do so begrudgingly and try to use this as a lever to close our smaller branch post offices whereas, of course, having to use them to receive our pension money should logically keep them open but when has logic or common-sense meant anything to this government

John Mould, Rosebery Road, Dursley