I WAS intrigued to learn that the Labour government plans to shake up the Civil Service (December 9). Let us hope that that includes the Treasury, which owns the Bank of England. The old lady of Threadneedle Street has been charged with controlling inflation by setting interest rates since Mrs Thatcher deregulated the banks some 40 years ago. Few of us will need reminding that it has consistently failed to do so. It is high time that some brave politicians scotched the myths and mystique which sustain the contemporary banking establishment and their orthodox economists and exposed the stifling effect of these self-serving institutions on our declining economy, social cohesion and democracy.  We have the builders and skills to create all the new affordable homes this country desperately requires but there is no money for this; we pay lip service to being a free-market economy but can no longer afford to make our own goods and services. All-powerful giant corporations and financial interests tell us we cannot afford to save our planet from environmental destruction.  Yes indeed, it is high time the politicians started to listen to progressive think-tanks like the New Economics Foundation, the heterodox economists who fight for a voice in every university, and the decent professional bankers and accountants who know the system requires reforming but whose voices are muted by chicken-hearted politicians and vested interest. R.F. Morrison, Helensburgh.