I HAVE no idea why Bob Neill MP, Minister for Local Government, ("Fight for Council Tax Freeze", People's Voice, February 10), wasted his time writing to the Mail, urging us to lobby the council to freeze council tax.

I was under the impression that the Labour-controlled Hull City Council had already taken the decision to freeze council tax for the forthcoming year, but I checked, to be on the safe side.

It took me a couple of minutes to find what I was looking for on the city council's website, and I quote: "The economic pressures on local Hull families mean that despite the impact upon the council's base position in the longer term, we have decided not to raise the council tax for 2012-13. We appreciate this will come as welcome news to hard-pressed families. Hull is hurting and we cannot add to that pressure."

It's a shame Mr Neill didn't do his own checking, before he dashed off his letter.

I would have thought that as a government minister, with the economy in freefall and essential local council services under threat, he would have better things to do with his time.

It's made me think though. What do government ministers do all day?

Rosie Nicola,

Laburnum Avenue, Hull.