The Daily Telegraph from London, Greater London, England • 4

I 4 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1993 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH NEWS Raise the pension age to 67, Tory By Robert Shrimsley Political Staff BRITAIN should follow the United States and raise the retirement age for both sexes to 67, according to a pamphlet by a Centre think tank. The Age of Enlightenment published by the Social Market Foundation and written by Mr David Willetts, Conservative MP for Havant will be welcomed by social security ministers who believe that sexual equality means raising the pension age for women to 65. secretalley, is Social expected Security publish a White Paper after Proposals, yet to be presented to Cabinet, envisage a sliding scale which would see the higher pension age for women being implemented early next century. Ministers have agreed that the change would not affect anyone over 50 now and that, once the starting date has been set, it would be phased in over five years. Any woman who is 60 on the year it comes into force would work until they are 61 and so on upwards with those who are 56 being the first to retire at 65.

Ministers are finalising details starting year -2010 is favourite and then Mr Lilley is expected to present their conclusions to the Cabinet in March. Mr. Willetts, a former member of Lady Thatcher's Downing Street. argues that, with a rising elderly population, the shift towards early retirement is a "dangerous "Society may be, able to and gradual in life handle modest relativelse expectancy. The strains, however, serious if at the becomen as life expectancy is increasing people leave the workforce when they are younger and younger," he says.

Training and Enterprise Councils should therefore devote some of their time to getting the unemployed over-50s back to work. Mr Willetts, a member of the select committee on social security, says the elderly are becoming more prosperous as more people take out private pensions. Raising the retirement age would free money for those in greater need. One possible route would be to raise the pension for the over-80s. His pamphlet also supports raising the retirement age for women to 65, a arguing that "such discrimination between the sexes is less and less compatible with modern attitudes on sex The alternative of reducing the retirement age for men to 60, he claims, would place an intolerable burden of an, extra £3 billion a year on the Exchequer.

Mr Willetts adds: "As we live longer and fitter lives so it seems increasingly perverse that all of these extra years are spent with an automatic entitlement to social security benefits." The age of Entitlement is published by the Social Market Foundation, 20. Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AA, £6. The State Opening of Parliament in London: most Britons would prefer to see less pomp and ceremony surrounding the Royal Family Picture: John Cogill Queen's coach on uncertain journey But would the British really like to change to a bicycle monarchy? Most Britons want a "bicycle monarchy" similar to that of the Netherlands, according to Gallup. The charts illustrate details of our royalty poll and Barbara Smit in Amsterdam examines the key finding from the Dutch point of view QUEEN BEATRIX is known in the Netherlands as "The a tough, intelligent and professional woman. She has contributed to the image of the Dutch monarchy as an "open, modern and democratic' institution which meets little opposition around the country.

Under the Dutch system, the monarchy has a chiefly ceremonial role but Queen Beatrix insists on keeping in close touch with the political leadership. She is praised for her business-like approach, her deep interest in modern issues and her expert knowledge of the constitution. The main political duties of the Dutch monarch are the appointment of the prime minister after general elections, the opening of parliament and weekly audiences with the political leadership, during which Queen Beatrix likes to reflect popular concerns. Ruud Lubbers, the Dutch prime minister, admits that her sharp and critical questions often encourage to reconsider important policies. Another politician, Ella Kalsbeek, said: "The Queen is the voice of the people in the street, in an intellectual The Dutch Royals pay income tax and like to mingle with their subjects.

One of neighbour, who proudly hangs out the Dutch flag royal birthdays, said: "'The Orange monarchy is part of our national heritage and Queen Beatrix has managed to give it a modern touch." Another royals don't bother anybody. They are doing their job well, they don't get involved in politics and they are worthy ambassadors abroad." family never wear royal paraphernalia. During official foreign trips, Queen wears colourful dresses with matching hats, while the Crown Prince, Willem Alexander, wears a white navy costume. The only pompous ceremonial day on the Dutch agenda is the opening of parliament, when the Queen drives from her palace to the centre of The Hague in a golden carriage, accompanied by horsemounted guards. Queen Beatrix contributes greatly to the openness surrounding the Dutch royal family.

On her 50th birthday, national television broadcast an extensive interview by writer Hella Haasse, in which the Queen talked openly about her activities. Opposition to the monarchy remains confined to extreme wing activists, who caused riots during her crowning ceremony Amsterdam, but the monarchy is not an issue in political circles. The Dutch royal family enjoys its privacy and the press respects it. Only the girlfriends of the Crown Prince arouse the interest of gossip magazines. Editorial Comment P16 THE SUPPORT FOR A RADICAL CHANGE Which of these statements comes closest to your own view? TOTAL By party By sex By age By class Con Lab 18-34 35-44 45-64 ABC1 C2 DE The monarchy and Royal Family should continue to exist but should become more democratic and 66 60 82 62 67 65 70 65 59 68 70 56 approachable rather like the monarchy and Royal Family in the Netherlands The monarchy and the Royal Family should stay 29 24 13 26 23 21 20 27 31 23 19 30 pretty much as they are now The monarchy should be abolished and replaced by a non-executive figurehead president like the one 4 14 4 10 8 13 8 7 6 10 10 they have in some continental countries A consistent message An unforgettable 4 day break.

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Stacey Mawby, of Rowlatts Hill estate, was pinned against a wall and died instantly. Her neighbours, Michael Francis, 10, and his sister, Joanne, nine, suffered "very serious" whead and leg injuries and "critical" in hospital last night. Flowers had been laid at the scene of the crash. with one bunch read: "Stacey my baby. Why? Why?" The driver of the BMW was arrested.

Defence lawyers shun lab tests Most defence lawyers shun the facilities now available at the Forensic Science Service laboratories, according to a Royal Commission on Crimi- POPULARITY Who is your favourite member ot the Royal Family? The figures below are percentages respondents naming each person. The first column are the results in a poll. June 1991, the second column shows today's figures Princess of Wales 22 22 Princess Royal 15 20 The Queen 12 15 The Queen Mother 14 14 Prince of Wales 15 4 Duchess of York 3 2. Prince Andrew 2 2 Prince Philip 2 1 Princess Margaret 1 Prince Edward 0 Other 2 2 None or Don't Know 11 17 CARING During the last war, especially during the Blitz, King George Vi and his family went out of their way to share the dangers and privations of their subjects. During the present serious recession do you think Queen Elizabeth and her family are showing the same concern? Yes, are No, are not Don't know IMAGE Here is a list of things people are saying about the Disagree Don't know monarchy and Royal Family.

For each, do you broadly agree or not? The monarchy is a national Institution of which we can still be proud Agree Disagree Don't know The Queen herself does a good job, but some of the other Royals let her down Agree Disagree Don't know The media Intrude far too much into the private lives of the Royal Family Agree Disagree Don't know Members of the Royal Family have lost touch with the lives of ordinary people Agree Disagree Don't know Too many members of the Family lead an idle let set kind existence Agree Disagree Don't know The Royal Family's critics 'gentleness, humour understanding' Agree Disagree Don't know There is altogether too much formality and empty ritual about the monarchy and the Royal Family Agree Disagree Don't know Members of the Royal Family have been too open with television and the press and this has undermined the monarchy's authority Agree Disagree GALLUP showed respondents a list of "things people are saying about the monarchy and the Royal Family" and asked whether they broadly agreed or disagreed. As the table shows, people overwhelmingly believe the Queen is doing a good job and think that "the media intrude far too much" into their private lives. A large majority shares the Queen's view that "the Royal Family's critics often lack gentleness, humour and Many continue to believe "the monarchy is a national institution of which we can be Many also believe the Royal Family is out of touch with ordinary people and is surrounded by too much formality and empty ritual and that too many members of the royal family lead an idle, jet-set existence. COST Should the taxpayer pay for the following? The state opening of Parliament YES Trooping the Colour The Queen's Flight The upkeep of the royal residences The royal train The Royal Yacht Britannia Royal garden parties None of these A LARGE majority no longer believes the money the country spends on the Royal Family is well spent. Gallup's interviewers reminded respondents that the Royal Family now costs the taxpayer £64 million year and asked: "Do you think the country gets value for money from its Royals?" When this was asked in July 1991, 57 per cent said the country was getting value for money.

That has now fallen to 30 per cent. In the new survey, 62 per cent denied the country was getting good value for money, compareds with 40 per cent, ago. Many are still willing to help pay for such public occasions as the state opening of Parliament but most people no longer feel they should subvent luxuries such the Royal Yacht Britannia. nal Justice report. Some said they would not trust the laboratories to keep their investigations from the prosecution.

Others said clients would not accept what would be regarded as "police Bland case may 'apply pressure' The Anglican Bishop of Liverpool has warned that the case of Hillsborough victim Anthony Bland should not be used to pressure relatives of other patients in a persistent vegetative state. The Rt David Sheppard sympathised with the family of Mr Bland, 21, who is to be allowed to die after a House of Lords ruling, but said decisions about continuing treatment should always be made case by case. Queen Beatrix: 'the voice of the people' the most popular pictures of Queen Beatrix was taken during the Queen's Day celebrations in Amsterdam, when the monarch smiled heartily after a boy spontaneously kissed her a her a happy birthday. Also, it is not uncommon to see the three princes shopping around The Hague or taking their girlfriends to popular discos. Instead of glamorous Caribbean holidays, Queen Beatrix and her family spend the summer in a Tuscany villa.

The Dutch are delighted with their royal family. A across all ages, classes and political parties Only one in three wants William as next king WHATEVER their views undermined his own sense of about the Royal Family in his fitness for the role, and general, most people believe asked: "In your view, should that the established line of the royal family skip a gensuccession to- the throne eration, with Prince William should be maintained. becoming King in Prince Only a minority believe Charles's stead?" that the Queen should abdi- The idea receives considercate or that the Royal Family able support. More than one should "skip a third of Gallup's responGallup asked: "Do you dents, 38 per cent, think the think the Queen should or Prince of Wales should give should not abdicate in favour way to Prince William. of Prince Charles some time However, 50 per cent say within the next few years?" they would prefer to see the Only 21 per cent want the Prince of Wales ascend the Queen to abdicate.

More than throne. three times that number. whether the royal 72 per cent -believe the family "will still exist in the Queen should continue. to next a large majority -69 per cent believes regaiup reminded respon- they will. dents that it is sometimes But 19 per cent, including said that the Prince of Wales large numbers of young may be too old when he people, think otherwise and becomes King and that his 11 per cent admit to being marital problems may have unsure.

Ashdown seeks large reduction in civil list By Robert Shrimsley, Political Staff THE growing clamour for changes he wished to see reform of the monarchy was were more of style and image joined yesterday by Mr Ash- than of substance but he down, the Liberal Democrat added that those, such as the leader, who said the Royal Prime Minister, who resisted Family had become "an the need for. change were alternative soap opera" doing "a massive disservice Royal garden parties held to the monarchy as an in Liverpool and Manchester and the civil list reduced "There is a need for a modjust Queen and the heir to ern monarchy for a modern the throne are two of the Britain," he said, adding that changes the Liberal Demo- when the Queen came to the crat leader envisages. throne "she was the leader of While making clear that he an remained committed to the Now Britain was a postinstitution, Mr Ashdown modern, echoed the comments of at with a different role in least two Labour shadow the needed a difpower cabinet members, Mr Jack ferent monarchy, he said. Straw and Miss Mo Mowlem, He rejected a republic as in calling for a more Euro- quite unsuited to Britain's pean monarchy modelled traditions and history and along the lines of the Dutch said he had no difficulty with or Danish royal families. the hereditary principle of Mr Ashdown said the monarchy.

Prison death A remand prisoner died yesterday at Belmarsh Prison, south London, where he was awaiting trial for murder. Tyrone Evans, 28, had recently been discharged from the prison hospital after a drug overdose. Murder charge Peter Keenan, 76, appeared before magistrates in Barrow, Cumbria, last night accused of murdering his wife, Edna, 74, whose body was found at their home in Walney Island, Barrow, yesterday. Church wardens Police in Pear Tree, Derby, have moved into a church hall while their station is demolished and a new one built. Meat exports up Meat and livestock exports soared by £140 million to about £800 million last year.

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