Tax system needs an overhaul
The row about the 10p tax rate entirely misses the point that our tax system is absurdly complicated, expensive to operate and wide open to fraud.
That Gordon Brown has made it far worse means that no government he leads will ever fix it. Fixed it must be, however.
The first and crucial step is a very substantial increase in personal allowances so that few, if any, people pay tax while also receiving benefits. This would boost the morale of the lower paid who would see that they are earning their own living rather than relying on the State. It would also encourage into work those whom the present system condemns to dead-end unemployment.
Furthermore, it would reduce opportunities for fraud, both by those who evade tax and those who claim benefits to which they are not entitled.
The combination of all three should more than suffice to make every honest worker better off at the expense only of those who cheat the system - and those who currently administer it could surely be found something more useful to do.
Idris Francis, via email

Tithebarn plan could affect citizens' rights
Is there any point in asking your readers for their opinions about the Tithebarn project? Will public opinion be considered?
I recently read an article in a national newspaper which featured city centre developments. The Grosvenor Paradise Project in Liverpool was included. According to the article, Liverpool Council, while benefiting from a large scale renovation for which it will pay virtually nothing in return, has given up its rights (the citizens' rights) to that area. Grosvenor has been given a 250-year lease on that land.
I wrote to the chief executive of Preston Council to ask if a similar arrangement would apply to Tithebarn and his reply was that the terms of the agreement are confidential.
Does anyone know what the likely consequences of this agreement will be in relation to the privatisation of public spaces?
Anne Corcoran, via email

Action needed to help poor pensioners
The Labour party won the 1997 election with the help of the pensioners' vote on a promise to take care of the lower income groups.
After several years the £200-a-year cold weather allowance is being raised by £50 (£1 per week) for 60 year olds and over.
The 80 year olds' pension will rise by £100 (£2 per week). Unlike MPs, pensioners do not have expense allowances.
In 1972 Ted Heath introduced indexation to cover the monthly cost of inflation. Also he gave pensioners a Christmas box of £10 which is still £10 after 36 years.
Margaret Thatcher's insulting pension increase is still 25p per week after 25 years.
Means-tested pension credit is often refused to pensioners on technicalities, leaving millions of pounds unclaimed.
A pensioner receives £100 per week or less yet gas, electric, water and even council tax charges are allowed to soar.
I suggest a method of avoiding all this "creaming off" of massive profits which would still allow inflation-linked pension increases.
The Ministry of Works and Pensions knows each person's income and which income group he belongs to, for example £5,000, £10,000 or £15,000 etc. The Government could produce a pensioners' plastic card to use when paying bills. Using the worker's average of £20,000, a pensioner on £5,000 would would save say three fifths of the bill. The companies involved could claim back some of the the shortfall at a rate determined by the Chancellor.
D Simpson, Penwortham, via email

Voters will reject fickle councillors
One result of the local council elections should not go unnoticed by those who wish to stand for public office.
This was the rejection, by the people of Ingol, of former counillor Mrs Dodds who, at the last election, stood as a Liberal Democrat, only to move to the Conservatives after being elected.
This act knocked my faith in the integrity of politicians. However the results from Thursday's election show that what goes around comes around.
Ingol resident

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