I read with interest the reference made in the Guardian dated March 15 to the earnings of the top executive of Surrey County Council, Dr Richard Shaw.

This stated that he received £208,000 per year against that of the Prime Minister of £186,000. A spokesman said, however, that this was £179,000. This is still £172,000 more than the average pensioner receives of approximately £7,000 per year.

I am 85 and in receipt of housing and council tax benefits since my husband passed away a year ago. I have just received a council tax bill of £8.26 for 2007-8. When I queried this I was informed that my pension was 79p per week in excess of benefits.

I do not object to paying for those in society such as doctors and nurses, and for those who labour in adverse conditions. I was brought up to respect those who perform menial tasks. An honest day's work deserves an honest day's pay.

I would question what Dr R Shaw actually does to warrant such a large salary.

I have had three hip replacements at Epsom Hospital in the past years and am registered as disabled and up until 2006 had free chiropody treatment. However, I was denied this service because of NHS cuts (I had my letter to the Guardian published re this) and now have to pay for this privately.

I am a tenant of Rosebery Housing Association and all tenants have to pay for interior decorations as the RHA say they cannot afford this, even the disabled elderly in special accommodation are not exempt. My 79p per week excess does not cover these.

We are the poorest paid pensioners in Europe. Germany, who we defeated in two world wars, pay their pensioners three times more than us and if we were to be brought in line' with the rest of Europe there would not be the need for some of us to be on benefits and all the bureaucracy this entails. Mountains of paperwork, labour, postage, phone calls. Then perhaps Surrey County Council could afford to pay for all our recycling needs, not just some of it, as at the present.

MRS N EBBS Cunliffe Road Stoneleigh