ECONOMYDarling expects the British economy to begin to grow again by the end of this year.

Total policy support for the UK economy is expected to protect up to 500,000 jobs.

Forecast for GDP growth in 2009 is minus 3.5 per cent.

Growth of 1.25 per cent forecast for 2010.

From 2011, growth of 3.5 per cent per year forecast.

Inflation expected to continue to come down sharply, to 1 per cent by the end of the year.

Deficit expected to halve in four years.

Budget measures represent fiscal easing of 0.5 per cent of GDP this year.

Public sector borrowing to hit £175 billion this year – 12 per cent of gross domestic product – but to fall to 9.1 per cent in two years.

JOBS

Extra £1.7 billion for Job Centre Plus network.

From January, everyone under 25 and out of work will receive a job or training.

Pledge to create 250,000 extra jobs and £260 million extra for skills and training. For the next two years, £250 million and then £450 million to maintain 54,000 sixth-form places.

HOMES

Help for homeowners out of work to reduce repossessions. Stamp duty holiday on homes up to £175,000 extended to year end.

BUSINESS

Loss-making firms can reclaim tax on profits from past three years.

TAX

From April 2011 pension tax relief restricted for those on incomes over £150,000.

No income tax increase this year, but the planned new top income tax rate of 45 per cent on incomes above £150,000 will be increased to 50 per cent and take effect from next April – a year early.

Alcohol duties will go up by 2 per cent. There will be an increase in tobacco duty of 2 per cent.

These measures will raise over £6 billion by 2012.

ISA savings tax free limit raised to £10,000 (£5,100 in cash) for over-50s this year and for everyone else next year.

TRANSPORT

Fuel duty will increase by 2p per litre in September and then by 1p a litre above indexation each April for the next four years.

Car industry scrappage scheme of £2,000 for cars over 10 years old from next month to March 2010.

INVESTMENT

£5 billion further efficiency savings in public services, rising to £9 billion by 2013/14.

Capital investment to continue until the London Olympics, and to be 1.25 per cent of GDP after 2013.

ENV IRONMENT

Extra £1 billion to help climate change measures.

£50 million to modernise armed forces housing.

North Sea oil exploration incentives.

Main capital allowance for firms doubled to 40 per cent.

£435 million of extra support to deliver energy efficiency measures for homes, firms and public buildings.

£525 million for offshore wind.