What is the best way to fund the National Health Service politicians are asking. One solution is a simple tax levy on taxable earnings. In Australia where I lived for some time they had a 1.5% of taxable earnings levy for their Medicare system.

If someone's taxable earnings are say £20,000 they would pay £300, based on the 1.5% figure. Why look for complications when simple measures can work well?

Colin Clarke

The Crescent

Stamford Bridge, York.

Updated: 11:53 Friday, December 07, 2001