WE ARE told that paying cash for services is ‘immoral’ and it is obviously illegal if the aim is to avoid paying tax.

But the definition of ‘immoral’ bears investigation.

To take a very simple example. A builder does a job where the customer provides the materials. A fair price is agreed as £1,000.

The builder has already earned the money to cancel out his tax allowances for this year and is VAT-registered.

The job is completed, the customer satisfied and the money changes hands. What then?

First, the builder counts out £200 to pay 20% VAT. This gives £800, subject to a National Insurance Contribution of around 10% – that’s £80.

That leaves £720 to be taxed at either 20% or 40%. Because our builder is VAT-registered he is likely to pay 40% – £288 on £720. The builder takes £432 home, the taxman pockets £568 and the customer pays £1,000.

Leaving legality aside, is that really any less ‘immoral’ than the customer and builder agreeing a cash-only price of £700 for the job?

Taxes should be paid, but they should also be fair. We should have a tax allowance equal to the national minimum full-time wage, say £12,500 today.

We should raise the VAT threshold (which is based on turnover, not profit) to a level that would benefit small business people, say £100,000.

We should admit that National Insurance is but another form of taxation and abolish it.

We should levy tax at a flat-rate of 30% on income above the £12,500 mark.

We should demand that Government learns to live within its means, instead of assuming there is no upper limit to the money which can be raised by taxation.

Only then should we turn our minds to issues of ‘immorality’ with cash transactions.

Bill Armer

Deighton

Questions over conviction

I READ with interest your article dated July 23 regarding the Alfred Moore case and that proceedings have come to an end owing to a lack of funding.

I have visited the website mentioned in your article and out of curiosity I purchased a copy of the book, The Wrong Neck In The Noose, written by Steve Lawson.

What a fascinating story. It kept my attention to the very last page and having read and digested the content I feel I must pose two questions.

1. How was Alfred Moore convicted in the first place?

2. How can the Criminal Cases Review Commission fail to refer the matter back to the Court of Appeal?

Much is written about our judicial system and we seem to take pride in the phrase ‘British Justice’ but having read this book my faith in the justice system has diminished.

How this travesty could have occurred in the 20th century is totally beyond me.

I would recommend this book to others.

Bewildered

Honley

Why look so shocked?

AMERICA always looks shocked when mass killings take place.

The man accused of the cinema ‘Batman’ atrocity had purchased handguns, rifle and a shotgun – all legal over there – and he purchased thousands of rounds of ammunition off the internet.

Here clearly was a man who was struggling with his life and yet was allowed to purchase these weapons.

Our laws are strict over here and rightly so.

M WILSON

Kirkheaton

Still in denial?

AFTER Balls, Miliband now Blair accepting responsibility for Britain’s financial crisis, could it be the only two people in the UK still in denial of Labour’s utter and abject failure are a Mr G Brown from Kirkcaldy in Scotland and a Mr R Vant Holmfirth.

Mr K Oakes

Taylor Hill

Games smokescreen

I’D just like to mention that while everybody’s attention is turned to the Olympics the Government has decided to sneak out the following three announcements – private companies (mostly American) to take control of Britain’s nuclear weapons (who controls the button?), English children no longer to get qualified teachers (to maximise profits for academy companies) and security services to get more access to monitor emails and social media.

And the games have only just begun.

Mr Corcoran

Lockwood

On the right trail

HUDDERSFIELD and surrounding area has a vast amount of real ale pubs, clubs, brewers and micro brewers.

People from all over the UK visit our town to sample the good beers and ales.

I fully support the efforts of the Town Centre Partnership in their efforts in organising recent Real Ale Trail events.

These types of properly organised opportunities to see more of and support our town should be encouraged and supported by our town folk.

We should point out that we do not sell real ales as our premises does not have the volume of fans of traditional beers, but we like to go out and sample the many goodies on offer in the town!

Joe and Johnny Marsden

Huddersfield Central Lodge Hotel

Searching for John

SOME time ago a photo of a John Ainley was published in your paper.

I am wondering if anyone could give me some information about him as I am hoping he may be a relative of mine.

I did not see the article but was told of it. I live in Australia and would very much appreciate any information and/or photograph about John Ainley. My name is Margaret Harrison and my address is 282 Gladstone Street, Maryborough 3465, Victoria, Australia or email marjoy43@bigpond.com.

Margaret Harrison

Australia

Danger in the quarries

EVERY year young people put themselves at risk of injury and even death by entering their local quarries uninvited. It happens right across the country – and it happens in your area.

Sadly, since the beginning of May, four teenage boys have died in trespass-related accidents in UK quarries.

All too often an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding a tragic accident of this kind reveals the same stark fact.

The young people involved did not perceive the risks they were exposing themselves to and they saw their activities as a bit of harmless fun.

With the long delayed arrival of dry, warm weather and the start of the school summer holidays, quarry operators are therefore keen to raise public awareness of these risks.

They would also like to appeal to parents to ensure that their youngsters are not tempted to enter into local quarries uninvited and to deter irresponsible adults who, in pursuit of their own activities, are breaking down quarry fencing and putting children’s lives at risk.

While some of the hazards that young people may expose themselves to are obvious, others are less so.

Quarry water, no matter how inviting, is icy cold and deep with unexpected currents and obstacles hidden beneath the water.

The dramatic impact that cold water can have on one’s body can result in even very experienced swimmers suddenly finding themselves in difficulty.

Quarry edges can be unstable. Caves dug into sand stockpiles can collapse on you. Ground that may look firm can act like quicksand.

I would urge parents and others to view and share our Facebook page Stay Safe Stay Out of Quarries with others. A video can also be viewed on YouTube (simply type in ‘Stay Safe Stay Out of Quarries’).

Our message and the message of the parents of boys who have been killed while trespassing in quarries and who are now supporting the campaign is simple.

Unless you are invited on an organised visit by the quarry operator please stay safe by staying out of quarries.

Elizabeth Clements

Mineral Products Association