Fraser welcomes Scottish Government intention to freeze Council Tax again

Scottish Conservatives have welcomed the Scottish Government's announced intention to include provision for an extension of the Council Tax freeze for 2011/12 in next year's draft budget.

Speculation has been growing that the freeze may be ended amid pressure from some in local government and other opposition parties.

Following his question to Finance Secretary John Swinney in the chamber this afternoon, Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader, said:

"The Scottish Government's stated intention to freeze Council Tax for a fourth successive year is very welcome, and will be greeted as such by families the length and breadth of Scotland.

"Since 2007 the Scottish Conservatives have been the only opposition party to support freezing Council Tax. It has been a welcome relief to households up and down the country who remember only too well the massive increases under Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

"Families are feeling the pinch and government should do what it can to help. As in previous years it should be up to individual councils to decide whether they will freeze or not, but they should have the option of doing so. We welcome the Scottish Government's stated intention and hope they will take it forward."

Scottish Conservatives have already set out a range of measures that will save the Scottish Government money - a recruitment freeze and pay freeze in the public sector, changing the status of Scottish Water and not scrapping prescription charges. We have been prepared to lead the debate on difficult issues such as the need for graduates to contribute to higher education.

These tough decisions mean that a Council Tax freeze is deliverable and we want the Scottish Government, when it publishes its draft budget, to include provision for this.

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