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Council Tax

I do not accept the premise of the hon. Gentleman’s question. Indeed, it provides a classic example of what I call the Liberal Democrat single transferable argument. When the council tax level is beyond what the hon. Gentleman thinks it should be and Liberal Democrats have influence in local councils, he blames the central Government; but when Liberal Democrats do not have influence in them, he blames the local councils. He cannot have his cake and eat it. The Government have increased revenue support grant to local authorities by nearly 40 per cent. In the four years from 1993 to 1997, it was cut in real terms by 7 per cent.