SOMETIMES an idea comes along that's so simple it seems blindingly obvious!

In my opinion, the 'Robin Hood Tax' is just such an idea. Readers may perhaps have heard about it on the national news, with the campaign being fronted by film director Richard Curtis and actor Bill Nighy.

The actor played a city banker in a film, who gradually has to admit that a tiny tax on bankers to raise money for the public is exactly what it sounds like: a good idea.

Small change taken from the banks could make an enormous difference to people in Devon and to communities all around the world.

Money raised by a Robin Hood Tax could be used to avoid cuts to vital public services and for a range of good causes including:

Meeting the UK Government's target to halve child poverty (£4billion)

Ending the benefit trap that makes it too expensive for people to leave welfare and return to work (£2.7billion)

Protecting schools and hospitals under threat of cuts

Meeting the Millennium Development Goals to cut global child deaths by two-thirds, maternal mortality by two-thirds and tackle malaria and HIV/Aids.

Providing resources to enable a deal to be done on tackling climate change.

More than 60 UK poverty and environmental charities, trade unions and faith groups have come together to propose a way to do just that, with the launch of the Robin Hood Tax campaign.

The idea is simple; ask banks all over the world to pay an average of 0.05 per cent for certain bank financial transactions, starting from just 5p for every £1,000 traded (or 0.005 per cent).

This would apply only to speculative trading, not high-street banking. Globally, it could generate £250billion every year, with tens of billions raised in the UK.

Half of the revenue would then be used to invest in public services and combat poverty in the UK, with the other half used to fund health and education and tackling the effects of climate change in developing countries. Figures show that the UK has just started moving out of recession. Nevertheless the effects of the financial crisis are still being felt right across the UK.

Thousands of jobs are at risk and now politicians are arguing that cuts to public spending are necessary to make up for the enormous UK deficit.

A big part of that deficit is linked to the bailout of the banks, which UK taxpayers had to contribute to only a few months ago and will continue paying for years to come, in tax rises and service cuts. Surely the banks, which had a large role in causing the economic crisis, should do more than just pay back the bailouts or insure against future financial crises? It is time for a new, practical contract with the banks to improve the society they serve.

This isn't just an idea backed by charities, churches and unions; it's had positive feedback from some very powerful figures in recent months. Gordon Brown, Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy are among those world leaders who have spoken out in recent months in support of a form of transaction tax. Financial figures who have backed transaction taxes include Lord Turner of the Financial Services Authority.

I believe this tiny tax on financial transactions is fair, feasible and financially sound. Similar transaction taxes already exist in many countries and raise money for valuable public services.

Readers may have heard of an earlier proposal called the 'Tobin Tax'. This was much higher and was targeted at slowing down currency trades. The Robin Hood Tax will go as low as 0.005 per cent for a Currency Transaction Levy, which would not distort the market but could still raise as much as $30billion a year towards the total $400billion.

Polls also show that a Robin Hood Tax has a lot of popular support. It's an idea that is gathering momentum with the British public and it's one that we can make happen if we seize the moment. Let's help turn a crisis for the banks into an opportunity for the world. I urge readers to pledge support for the campaign at www.robinhoodtax.org.uk