6 MARCH 2004, Page 27

Wealth tax

From Robin Jenks Sir: Robin Harris (Tess means more', 28 February) fails to mention some of the benefits of a flat-rate tax. As it would be readily understood, we would all be able to pay it without help from accountants or civil servants. It would abolish the poverty trap so that no one would ever again be worse off by earning more money. It would only need to be set at 12.5 per cent so that everyone would work for the government for one eighth of the time. What could be fairer than that? Oh yes, and we would become a tax haven for millionaires. This is an exciting idea whose time has come. Go for it, Letwin.

Robin Jenks

London SW12