A few months ago we reported that there had been a mass exodus of foreign residents from the islands. Up to 6,000 Germans and 2,000 Britons had departed according to the report. Now, initially I was rather alarmed. I know times are hard but this was a big exodus. However, I have heard on good authority that part of the drop could be as a direct result of some foreign residents erasing their names from official town hall records in an effort to avoid paying tax. I was told that literally thousands of Germans had gone to their town halls and asked to be taken off the council census or not renewed it. Now, my source is well informed and it would explain this rather big drop in foreign residents. The Spanish tax authorities are desperately trying to raise money at the moment and they are looking closely at the foreign community. Some people, it seems, decided to take action and attempted to "disappear." I would like to remind them that this little stunt will achieve little and will not put taxman off the scent.