Budget 2008 - highlights
The main points from Chancellor Alistair Darling's first budget.
Alistair Darling" class="imageframe imgalignright" height="130" src="http://www.shropshirestar.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/12darling.jpg" title="Alistair Darling" width="175"/>The main points from Chancellor Alistair Darling's first budget:
Pensioners' winter fuel payments to rise from £200 to £250 for the over 60s and from £300 to £400 for the over 80s.
Beer up 4p a pint, cider 3p a litre, wine 14p a bottle and spirits by 55p a bottle.
11p on a packet of 20 cigarettes, 4p on five cigars.
From 2009 major reform of car tax to encourage drivers to choose less-polluting vehicles.
£26 million to help make homes greener and new non-domestic buildings to become zero-carbon from 2019.
To introduce legislation in 2009 on plastic bag charging if sufficient voluntary measures have not been taken.
First Carbon Budget will be presented alongside next year's Budget.
Land identified for the building of an extra 70,000 houses on top of the 40,000 already planned.
Chancellor wants more long-term fixed rate mortgages and is seeking views.
No stamp duty on shared ownership until 80 per cent of the equity is owned.
New funding to develop technology for a national road pricing scheme.
New measures at airports to speed up immigration procedures.
From April 2010, all long term recipients of incapacity benefit will attend work capacity programmes.
Targeted investment in under-performing schools.
£30,000 charge for non-doms from April.
Corporation Tax confirmed at 28p from April but there will be changes to Capital Gains Tax.
Cash ISA limit confirmed at £3,600 from April.
Chancellor wants lower tariffs for pre-paid meters.
From October 2009, rules for housing and council tax benefit will mean families on benefit are better off in work. From April, 2009, child benefit will be increased to £20 a week.
Remains committed to public spending with growth targeted at 1.9 per cent.
Public borrowing scheduled to fall to 1.6 per cent by 2014.Fuel duty up 0.5p a litre from 2010. Current planned increase postponed until October.
No return to inflation of 1990s but inflation forecast to return to target of 2 per cent in 2009.
British economy grew by three per cent last year. Projected to grow by between 1.75-2.25 per cent this year.
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See later editions of tonight's Shropshire Star for Budget analysis and reactions from the county.