THE Government's latest payments to help families with the cost-of-living crisis have been welcomed by the Conservative Parliamentary spokesman for North Shropshire.

Councillor Dean Carroll welcomed that nearly one in four families will receive £301 from the Government as the latest cost of living payments have been sent out, including 10,400 families in North Shropshire.

In addition, 10,500 eligible individuals in North Shropshire will also receive the Conservative Government’s disability cost of living payment worth £150 again this year.

In addition to cost-of-living support, the Government hopes the Energy Price Guarantee continues to help keep household energy bills as low as possible and ensure the typical family pays no more that £2,500 for their energy bills until the end of June this year.

Cllr Carroll believes it will benefit people.

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He said: "Households are facing rising living costs in the wake of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine and the Conservative Government is rightly protecting the most vulnerable people in North Shropshire.

"10,400 families in North Shropshire are eligible for a further means-tested cost of living payment worth £301 from today and £900 in total for 2023-4.

"These payments will give families much-needed support, protecting vulnerable people who are most exposed to rising prices."

The payments were also welcomed by Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride.

He said: "This latest additional payment will be welcomed by millions of families – as will further payments due over the next year.

"We have continually supported those most vulnerable to rising costs, including through record benefits and national living wage increases as well as this exceptional cost of living payments responding to the global pressures we are facing.

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"We will also continue to deliver on our five priorities, including halving inflation, as this will ease pressure on households currently struggling with household bills and rising prices."

The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, added: "The best thing we can do to help people’s money go further is deliver on our priorities to halve inflation and grow the economy.

"But we’re also here to help people through these tough times, which is why we’re holding down energy bills, freezing fuel duty, increasing Universal Credit, and giving £900 payments to low-income and vulnerable families, all in part funded through windfall taxes on energy profits."