Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone today welcomed moves to ease the blow of spiralling energy bills

Mr Stone welcomes the move however warned that people in his patch face a cost of living crisis.

He made the remarks after Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a £200 energy bills discount for all households, to be repaid over 5 years, in addition to a £150 council tax rebate for English households in properties A-D.

£219 million of Barnett consequentials will be made available to the Scottish Government to mirror the council rebate scheme, however the Scottish Government still have not confirmed it will follow suit replicating the rebate.

Mr Stone said: "I am relieved that opposition calls for urgent help with energy bills have finally been heard, but we must be clear that what is on offer from the Treasury is a drop in the ocean. A £200 loan may help delay the pain, but it will do nothing to take that pain away.

“At the same time that household bills are rocketing, the Chancellor is going ahead with a National Insurance tax hike, which for many people will cancel out the support he is providing on energy costs.

“Many Highlander's already face serious fuel poverty, and tragically what has been announced today will only serve to paper over the cracks.”

Ofgem earlier announced that the energy price cap is rising to £1971 for the average household, an increase of 54%, prompting Mr Sunak to make his comments.

Prepayment meter users will see a typical increase of £708 to £2017 annually.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.