New figures suggest the poorest households may miss out on the council tax rebate which the Government has set up to help with soaring energy bills

Properties in council tax bands A-D are eligible for the £150 rebate. But the government's financial watchdog estimates that around a third of these do not pay their council tax bill by Direct Debit and therefore won't automatically benefit from the help. So they have to apply. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that only about 80% are expected to apply. That leaves many households, likely to be the poorest, unable to benefit from the £150

Our local Conservative councils must work with the Government to ensure that every eligible household in our area benefits from this rebate, by hook or by crook.