CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the use in the Statement of Additional Information and the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus and Proxy Statement constituting parts of this registration statement on Form N-14 (the "N-14 Registration Statement") of our report dated January 24, 1997, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights of Prudential Government Securities Trust - Short-Intermediate Term Series (the "Fund"), which appears in its 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders which is included in such Statement of Additional Information and incorporated by reference in such Prospectus and Proxy Statement. We also consent to the use of such report and to the reference to us under the heading "Custodian and Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent and Independent Accountants" in the Statement of Additional Information of Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the registration statement on Form N-1A of the Fund (the "N-1A Registration Statement"), which is included in the Statement of Additional Information of such N-14 Registration Statement and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and Proxy Statement constituting part of such N-14 Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Financial Highlights" in the Prospectus of such N-1A Registration Statement, which is incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and Proxy Statement of the N-14 Registration Statement. We also consent to the use of our report dated August 21, 1997, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights of The BlackRock Government Income Trust (the "Trust") for the year ended June 30, 1997, which appears in its 1997 Annual Report to Shareholders which is included in such Statement of Additional Information and incorporated by reference in such Prospectus and Proxy Statement. We also consent to the use of such report and the reference to us under the heading "Custodian and Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent and Independent Accountants" in the Statement of Additional Information of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the registration statement on Form N-1A of the Trust (the "N-1A Registration Statement), which is incorporated by reference in the Prospectus constituting part of such N-1A Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Financial Highlights" in the Prospectus of such N-1A Registration Statement, which is incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and Proxy Statement of the N-14 Registration Statement. PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 December 10, 1997