A grumpy old man writes ...

Better than a kick in the teeth, I suppose:

The basic state pension is set for its biggest rise in real terms since 2001, the Treasury has said.

Chancellor George Osborne will confirm the increase to £119.30 a week from April 2016 in next week's Spending Review.

The 2.9% rise will be worth an extra £174.20 a year to someone on a full basic state pension.

...

A triple-lock pledge on pensions - a government promise for the next five years - means the state pension rises each April to match the highest of inflation, earnings, or 2.5%.