A way to transparency on tax and spend

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/06/transparency-on-tax-and-spending-uk

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Simon Walker of the Institute of Directors says that the fund management industry is ripe for investigation because “an alarming lack of transparency surrounds its pay and practices” (He’s not the boss. It wasn’t his finest year. But the man from the Pru still rakes in £15.5m, 2 April). Transparency would be greatly enhanced if we imitated Norway, Sweden and Finland, where tax returns are in the public domain and anyone’s return can be examined. This would also be an incentive to greater honesty in filing returns. Politicians could make a start by publishing their own returns and this should include local politicians, ie councillors and other elected officials.Joseph CockerLeominster, Herefordshire

• David Cameron leads us to believe that overall government spending has been cut since he came to power. However, spending has increased from £673bn to £721bn, an increase of 7% in nominal terms and also an increase in real terms – most of this due to increases in pension costs.David PeettEast Dean, West Sussex