ARTFUL DODGERS

Newspapers love to run stories about some member of the working class who unlawfully claims state benefits. "Benefit dodgers" and "claimant crooks" scream the headlines. In fact the amounts claimed are usually very small-time compared to the dodges that the owning class get up to. "Britain and Switzerland have agreed a ground-breaking deal that could bring in £6 billion for the Treasury and which marks the end of an era where the super-rich used the country to shelter their wealth." (Times, 25 August) The Treasury estimated that in 2006 the tax evasion and avoidance came to £14 billion using the Swiss banks. So big is the evasion that the Swiss banks have agreed to a one-of payment of £384 million to the Treasury. "This doesn't mean the end of tax dodging of course. The world's wealthiest will always be able to find smaller, more obscure territories with a firm attitude on privacy." (Times, 25 August) RD