Sir – I am genuinely puzzled about the cost of two well-known benefits for the over-60s and I’m hoping one of your readers may be able to help; I refer to the bus pass and the free swim for over-60s.

Why do these benefits seem to take so much from the public purse?

If more of the over-60s use the bus, there is presumably an additional cost to running and repairs, though other major costings eg wages for drivers, remain the same, so why is the scheme so expensive of public revenue?

The same applies to free swimming for over 60s: why are there additional costs to the public purse if the pools are open for the same length of time as before and there are no extra staffing costs? Am I alone in not understanding this?

Bob Forster, Aged 59 and three-quarters!, Shipton-under-Wychwood