Uninformed Dimwits Run The Treasury

100 senior Treasury officials in September 2005 were asked what share of income tax in the UK is paid by the top 1% of earners. These are people you would expect to know and who devise the tax policies:

Is it........................ % who answered
a) 5% of all tax ... ............19
b) 8% ...............................19
c) 11% .............................24
d) 14% .............................19
e) 17% .............................19

(Source: The Tiger That Isn't, Michael Blastland and Andrew Dilnot)

They were all wrong. The correct answer is 21%. Analysing the effect of the tax system was the core function of this group - and the Treasury lot are supposed to be the best.