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On tax avoidance, imo there is a really simple way around it. Reduce tax to the point that no one can be bothered to try and avoid it. You'd collect more money and be able to slash the huge cost of HMRC to the tax payer. Win-win. The only problem with that is the number of unemployed that would result from both the Revenue and the tax avoidance industry. You also have to deal with the individual emotional frustration of top earners not paying more relative to their purchasing power.

Just my 2p.

I agree with most of what you said prior to this, but I can't see how reducing tax will mean that people start actually paying it. I'd much rather see the tax dodgers more efficiently found/punished, crack down on the big companies etc. Reducing tax may have the effect of making a few people pay, but It wouldn't make up for the loss in revenue from lower taxes. IMHO, higher taxes and a better funded public sector > low taxes and mass privatisation.