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Local Government Finance

In a moment. The Opposition's council tax plans are, as The Observer said on Sunday, "mired in confusion". We also need to know when the freeze will start. If it does not start until next year, there is another problem. As the pre-Budget report makes clear, advertising and consultancy will be cut by this Government by £650 million in 2012-13 as part of our plan to halve the deficit, so there is no money in the coffers to pay for the second year of the proposed council tax freeze. There is at least a £1.120 billion black hole in the Opposition's local government spending plans in the first two years, and the same amount every year after that.