Government website crashes just minutes after John Healey's £100 council tax payment announcement

The Government website has crashed after Chancellor John Healey announced a £100 Household Energy Payment for homeowners in certain tax bands. Britons rushing to check their tax band triggered the Government's website to stop loading during the delivery of his Autumn Statement. Making the announcement to MPs this afternoon, Mr Healey said: "Today, I am taking one further step. This winter, for 20 million households in council tax bands A to D, I am announcing a £100 Household Energy Payment, paid directly into people’s bank accounts to help deal with rising energy bills. "A £2.6billion scheme to take the pressure off in the coldest months and see people through to the Spring. "The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Governments will receive their share of this funding, and I call on them to do the same and give people in all nations of the UK breathing space on their energy bills. "Breathing space now, hope for the future." The support comes as families face rising costs and the prospect of another increase to the energy price cap in January. Millions of households will receive the extra help with their energy bills following his announcement of an axe to standing charges on gas bills. The £100 payment will be made directly into eligible households’ bank accounts, meaning Britons do not need to apply. The decision also means the payment will not be targeted solely at lower-income families. The payment will be funded partly through a temporary increase in taxes on banks. The surcharge on qualifying bank profits will rise from three per cent to six per cent for 15 months, Mr Healey confirmed. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS He said: "Our world-leading banks make a huge contribution to this country, in the tax they pay, in the jobs, industry and investment they support. "As Chancellor, I want to say directly to our banks, I celebrate and am grateful for the role you play. And amid global economic storms, I am looking to our banks to help fund breathing space for British families. "And so banks will pay an extra three per cent on the Bank Surcharge, this will be time limited, to pay for immediate support on energy bills. Starting in January, ending 15 months later. "I’ve made my choice at this Budget: asking a bit more of our banks to support ordinary people, raising taxes on gambling to support good growth on every high street." Tens of millions of households will also no longer pay standing charges on their gas bills, as the Chancellor has pledged to save an average of £45 off their annual bill. The Chancellor vowed to end the "unfair and outdated practice", and will ask Ofgem to deliver removal of these charges. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said: "Gas standing charges are unfair and outdated so I am scrapping them to give millions of households a bit of breathing space. "My Budget will draw a line in the sand on an energy policy that has failed British billpayers for years, letting extra costs on bills pile high and leaving households even more exposed to global shocks." Follow related topics: