The Chancellor Gordon Brown unveiled his new Budget before the House of Commons. Highlights from his speech included:

* Growth in 2001 was 2.2 per cent; forecast for 2002 is between 2 and 2.5 per cent; 2003, 3 to 3.5 per cent. Inflation target continues at 2.5 per cent.

* An extra £4bn for public spending next year.

* Measures to help British manufacturers invest in technology - large companies to get a new research and development tax credit.

* New child tax credit for families with incomes up to £58,000.

* New small companies tax rate cut from 20p to 19p with immediate effect and 10p starting rate of corporation tax reduced to zero.

* Capital gains tax reduced to ten per cent for small businesses.

* Small businesses get new flat rate of VAT to cut down on administration. To be extended from next April to almost half VAT-registered firms.

* Automatic fines from Customs and Excise abolished for late-paying small businesses.

* VAT on bad debts - small companies get an automatic right to relief after six months.

* Pilot training projects allowing staff from small firms time off to gain skills.

* Additional £30m for more small, businesses can get Investors in People status.

* Stamp duty abolished on all commercial and business property in deprived areas.

* Certain green energy schemes to get exemptions from climate change levy.

* Tax disc reductions of £55 for environmentally friendly vans, £30 for cars and up to £35 for motorcycles.

* Abolish tax on bingo for players.

* Duty halved on beer in small pubs and independent breweries in time for the World Cup - equivalent to 14 pence off an average pint.

* Jobless help - new work preparation course for long-term unemployed in London and selected areas.

* New tax credit scheme to help single people earning less than £200 and couples over 25 without children with less than £280 a week.

* Pensioner benefits leaving average pensioner £1,150 better off than in 1997.

* Reduced tax bills for amateur sports clubs plus cash for renovation schemes.

* Integrate family taxes and benefits to give most to the poorest - all benefits to be paid to the main career.

* £2.5bn extra support for parents tax burden for average family below 20 per cent. This will help six million families.

* Maternity benefits go up to £100 from April 2003.

* More help for childcare - up to £55 a week for average couple with two children on £35,000 a year.

* Cover to include approved care in your own home - helping parents of disabled children and those working irregular hours.

* More help for single earner families to help parents who want to leave work to care for children.

* Child support will be £54.25 for one child; £93.75 for a second child.

* £120m for emergency overseas aid.

* Significantly more of national income to be spent on education.

* Payments direct to secondary schools rise from £98,500 to £114,000 each; primary schools £33,700 to £39,300 each.

* NHS help 'to tackle decades of under-investment' including new financial incentives for hospital performance, reform of social services care for the elderly.

* Annual auditor's report annually to account for national NHS spending with local reports detailing link between money spent and results attained.

* An extra £1bn for the NHS, but more than that still needed.

* Income tax to go up for full-time earners on an average £21,400, meaning they will pay an extra £3.70. For those on £32,100 there will be a £5.75 weekly increase; those earning £10,700 will pay £1.65 more.

* Cigarettes go up by 6p per packet of 20.

* Tax on wine. Beer and spirits frozen.

* Tax on petrol and diesel frozen.

* Licence fees on cars, vans and lorries frozen.