Between 1993 and 1997, local taxation in Scotland increased by 27 per cent; since 1997, it has gone up by only 11.1 per cent, which is an increase of less than half the increase during the last six years of the Tory Government.This year, local taxation rises have again been pegged at a level that is substantially lower than the levels in England and Wales. That is good news. This year, 70 per cent of Scottish businesses are paying less in business rates than they paid last year because we froze the business rate and introduced a small-business relief scheme that is benefiting them directly.My plea to the Opposition parties is that they tell the truth about the Scottish economy and about taxation.