73% of households in Scotland will receive help to the tune of £150 to help them cope with cost of living rises.
The payments will take the form of a council tax rebate which will be paid to all households in council tax bands A to D as well as any other household that currently qualifies for reduced rates.
Kate Forbes, the Scottish Finance Secretary explained on Thursday that rising fuel prices, inflation and the coming increase in national insurance will “hit the most vulnerable in our society the hardest”.
She also took the opportunity to call on the UK government for more assistance saying “I will be writing to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury highlighting that we must work together urgently so we can use our joint powers to do more to tackle the cost of living.”
During PMQs this week Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer traded blows on their respective policies to reduce the impact of rising fuel prices. The Conservatives have introduced a mandatory £200 “discount” for bill payers in October which will be paid back over five years from 2023. They have also introduced a rebate similar to the Scottish government paying £150 out to households in council tax bands A to D in April.
Labour have proposed a windfall tax on energy companies to pay for additional help for households.
