Empty promises

Of course a separate Scotland could set its own pension age and rates (your report, 25 September). However, there is a warning in George Orwell’s Animal Farm of what can happen when large pensions are promised without the resources to pay them.

In the story, although generous old-age pensions were agreed when the animals became independent, once the time actually came for one of them to retire, it proved impossible to provide the promised pension. Instead, the old horse was sent to the knackers.

Jane Ann Liston

St Andrews