
Tuesday, March 16, 1999 Published at 13:02 GMT


 |  |  | Brown: UK to defy world downturn Chancellor Gordon Brown tells the BBC his Budget platform for stable growth in the UK will enable the economy to withstand the threat posed by a shaky world economy. |  |
   |  |  | Digesting the Budget Chancellor Gordon Brown has defended his Budget from accusations it included gimmicks to win favourable headlines. |  |
  |  |  | Politics v prudence The BBC's Chris Giles looks at the Budget that put Gordon Brown back in the role of political fighter rather than simply a prudent chancellor. |  |
  |  |  | The Tony and Gordon show The prime minister and the chancellor teamed up for a radio phone-in to take questions on the Budget and what it is like being neighbours. |  |
  |  |  | You give Budget thumbs down Unwilling to be persuaded by the front pages, News Online readers criticise Gordon Brown's economic reforms. |  |
       |  |  | Brown targets income tax Chancellor Gordon Brown has cut a swathe through income tax bringing the basic rate down to 22p and introducing a 10p starting rate. |  |
   |  |  | Where's the money coming from? The government's headline tax cuts in the Budget have been funded by falls in spending and low key or pre-announced tax rises. |  |
  |  |  | Millennium present for drinkers Duties on alcohol have been frozen but smokers will pay an extra 17.5p on a packet of 20 cigarettes - neither the drinks nor the tobacco industries are happy. |  |
  |  |  | Fuel rises by 6% Petrol duty has risen by 6% above inflation, the road tax on small cars will fall by �55 from June and a number of measures have been introduced to encourage the use of "green" vehicles. |  |
  |  |  | Benefitting families Child benefit will not be taxed and family payments are to rise from next year, but mortgage tax relief and the married couple's alllowance face the axe. |  |
  |  |  | NHS to get an extra �430m An extra �430m is to be pumped into the NHS to improve accident and emergency departments around the country. |  |
  |  |  | Winter warmer for elderly The �20 annual winter allowance for the country's eight million elderly households, has been boosted to �100 per household. |  |
  |  |  | Budget cash to fight crime An extra �170m has been earmarked for crime prevention measures such as closed circuit television cameras. |  |
   |  |  | 10p chancellor's election bid Gordon Brown has astonished MPs on all sides with a radical budget that cut taxes and set the government firmly on election footing. |  |
   |  |  | Brown's tax bombshell A cut in the basic rate of income tax to its lowest level for 70 years surprised MPs. |  |
      |  |  | Shares 'for all' It will become much cheaper for employees to buy shares in their own companies - a move that could revolutionise share ownership. |  |
  |  |  | Higher returns for pensioners A new higher-rate savings bond will be offered to pensioners, while all UK investment offerings are to be published in league tables by financial regulators. |  |
  |  |  | Help for older unemployed Older workers are to benefit from a minimum income guarantee of �170 a week for a year if they return to work. |  |
  |  |  | Company tax cut to all-time low A raft of reforms to encourage enterprise, including cutting the corporation tax from 31% to 30% and incentives for small businesses, have been announced. |  |
  |  |  | Business backs the Budget Business leaders and trade unions welcome the decision to cut taxes, introduce a raft of new measures to promote enterprise and broaden share ownership. |  |




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