CUNNINGHAME South's MSP has welcomed new figures which show 17,080 households in North Ayrshire were supported through the council tax reduction scheme in December 2023.

The scheme, which the Scottish Government introduced in 2013, has saved households over £3.5billion in the past decade with the average home seeing £800 come off their bills per year.

Across Scotland one in five households, over 460,000, receive council tax reduction support.

This is in addition to every household in Scotland being supported through the council tax freeze.

Ruth Maguire, who represents the constituency - covering Irvine, Kilwinning and parts of Stevenston and Saltcoats - for the SNP, said: “Supporting people through the cost of living crisis in the SNP Government’s top priority. These figures show that the council tax reduction scheme is helping people across North Ayrshire.

"17,080 households in North Ayrshire are being supported by this scheme.

"This is on top of every single home in North Ayrshire benefitting from having their council tax frozen in the next year.

“In the face of economic incompetence from Westminster, the SNP is delivering the support people need to get through the cost of living crisis and protect household budgets.”