IN this week’s column, Warrington South Conservative MP Andy Carter discusses the cost of living and inflation.

I’m often asked what the Government is doing to help ease the increase in prices we’re all facing.

Listening to the Opposition you’d be led to believe there’s little in the way of assistance.

The reality is that we’ve seen one of the largest intervention packages that any Government, of any political colour, has ever delivered, which is targeted to help those who are least well off.

A number of readers will have received the latest £150 Cost of Living payment in the last few days, aimed at those who are most in need of support owing to disability. It’s the latest instalment in a wider overall package worth up to £1,350 for the most vulnerable, just one part of the many initiatives that are helping people in various different ways.

With the latest disappointing inflation figures leading to the Bank of England’s interest rate hike, which will have caused serious concern to anyone with a mortgage, it’s clear we’re not out of the economic woods yet and will unfortunately be facing rising prices for longer than had been hoped or expected.

Given these circumstances, measures such as the near 50% increase to the maximum amount of Universal Credit childcare payments which came in last week will make a real and timely difference for working families. The deal struck between the Government and the mortgage lenders will also have provided welcome reassurance, with an agreement that seeking help on repayments won’t affect credit scores and useful options for those coming to the end of a fixed rate deal.

Energy bills also remain a huge worry for many, so it’s welcome that the energy price guarantee remains in place. So far, it’s saved the typical household £1,500. Looking ahead, pensioners will also benefit from an extra Winter Fuel Payment this coming winter, and there will be help for those on certain working age, income-related benefits too. It’s right that those in work on lower incomes receive help too, on top of the 9.7% increase to the National Living Wage.

Taking action to force transparency in pricing will also help over the longer term. Petrol and diesel prices went up very quickly after the invasion of Ukraine but have taken much longer to fall back, even when the cost of oil is below previous levels. Earlier this week competition authorities identified that supermarkets’ margins have risen by 6p per litre between 2019 and 2022, after considering movements in the oil price. The Government has helped with a 5p cut to fuel duty, but that isn’t reaching households in the way it should.

I appreciate Government support can’t reach everyone and won’t solve everything for those who it does.

We as a country must get inflation back down to manageable levels, below wage growth, to stop rising prices making things harder for us all.

There have been tough messages on this from the Chancellor, but this is the greatest challenge facing the UK and most other countries right now.

Until then, it’s right targeted support like the recent £150 gets to those who need help the most.