THE Government is announcing a scheme whereby we will all receive a breakdown of how it spends money raised through taxation.

On the face of it this is a good idea; very democratic, we might think. But what will we learn from these headline figures about how the education or health budgets, for example, are divided into funding streams for different aspects of education or healthcare?

What will we learn of the likely effects of spending less or spending more?

In times of global economic stress, it is all too easy to whip up antagonism between different interest groups in society. None of us relish paying tax, but most of us appreciate that a civilised society requires us to educate to a high standard and provide care and support for those who need it, and that it can only be done efficiently and effectively by careful planning and integrated systems.

I’m not so sure publishing headline expenditure figures will provide us with the information we need. If, on the other hand, the Government is going to give us more in-depth information, such as for example the risk register relating to the Health and Social Care Bill/Act, I’m all for it.

Chris Brace, Wheldrake, York.

• AM I missing something, but according to the literature I have received in respect of my council tax for the forthcoming year 2012/13, if I pay by direct debit it is good for the environment.

Perhaps one of your readers could assist me in this matter. No doubt the council have an answer somewhere.

Derek Filer, Elder Grove, Haxby, York.

• IT HAS been my habit when given a mathematical problem to solve to have in mind what I would call the order of magnitude of the expected answer.

For example, this week I received from City of York Council a booklet about the 2012/13 Council tax. I expected to find that the order of magnitude of the expenditure for 2012/13 would be about one or two thousand pounds for every person in the council’s area.

Imagine my surprise to read on page 17 that the Total CYC gross revenue expenditure for 2012/13 would be a little over three hundred and fifty four thousand million pounds.

With a population of about two hundred thousand, this means an expenditure per person of not a thousand or two, but a million or two.

The question is – is it the CYC intention to send us all on a year’s luxury vacation in our own private yachts with all expenses paid and Masterchef quality food – or is there a wheel off in the numbers?

Perhaps the council should have published a figure of three hundred and fifty four million pounds – only a factor of one thousand less.

Richard Shouksmith.

Lords Moor Lane, Strensall, York.