The Chancellor Gordon Brown got to his feet in the House of Commons at 1530 GMT, to begin delivering his pre-Budget report on the state of the UK economy.
Here is a summary of the main points:
HEADLINES
UK economy will meet the Treasury's economic growth target of between 2.25% and 2.75% for 2001
Economy will grow at a slightly slower rate than previously predicted next year, as chancellor trims 0.25% from his growth forecast for 2002 to between 2% and 2.5%
Chancellor says UK needs to devote a "significantly higher share of national income to the NHS" over the next 10 years
THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
Extra £1bn for National Health Service next year
Chancellor reaffirms "commitment to publicly-funded health service", quoting Wanless report into health service funding which is published on Tuesday
The chancellor said he wants to forge a "national consensus" that a publicly-funding NHS with higher long-term investment was best for Britain
The Wanless report warns that there will be significant financial pressures on the NHS as a result of technological innovations and rising expectations, but less than expected from an ageing population. The report points to a history of under-investment
The report confirms the need for significantly higher long-term investment in the NHS, the chancellor said
CHILDREN AND PENSIONERS
All support for children to be paid to the main carer, with the new Children's Tax Credit to be integrated with Child Benefit. The measure is designed to help people who currently miss out on the Working Families Tax Credit
New funds - £3bn in total - for retired people with small occupational pensions or modest savings, to be paid in the form of a new pensioner tax credit
The Pensioner Credit will help half of all pensioners, the chancellor claims. It will be raised in line with earnings for the rest of the current parliament
In addition, the chancellor is to introduce an annual increase in the basic state pension of at least £100 for single people and £160 for pensioner couples, a rise of 2.5% and more if inflation is higher
Extension of £200 annual winter fuel allowance to end of current parliament
HELP FOR THE POOR
More cash for deprived areas
Stamp duty on business and domestic property transactions worth up £150,000 to be abolished in deprived areas as of Friday to stimulate property market
The Department for Work & Pensions will announce new measures for newly redundant people and expand the New Deal for the long-term unemployed
Abolition of betting tax on football pools
THE COST OF TERROR
The armed forces will receive £100m towards the war on terrorism with another £20m going on intelligence work in the wake of 11 September
Extra £30m for Metropolitan Police and other forces
Extra £100m for aid in Afghanistan
OTHER AID PACKAGES
Rural aid after foot-and-mouth will cost £2.7bn
Chancellor recommends creation of £50bn 'Marshall Plan' fund to eradicate world poverty
BUSINESS
New research and development tax credit for large businesses
Share options will be extended to businesses with a turnover of £30m
From April capital gains tax will be set at 20% for business assets owned for a year and 10% for those held for two
The chancellor confirmed the extension of the 10p corporation tax band announced in the Budget
Flat rate, simplified VAT regime, which the chancellor claims will save the typical small business £1,000 a year
New £50m venture capital fund for small busineses
A Community Investment Tax Credit which will match every £100m of private investment with £250m of public investment
Confirmed plans to charge foreign lorries for using British roads
£40m pilot scheme on tax credits for companies who allow workers time off to attend training courses
THE PUBLIC FINANCES
The government had been able to repay £37bn in debt in the last year, £3bn more than predicted, bringing the total repaid since 1997 to £51bn
The chancellor warned of "significantly lower tax revenues this year and next" but this will not hit fiscal targets
Net borrowing will rise by £1.5bn but total government debt stays low at 31% of GDP
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