Here are the main points of Chancellor Alistair Darling's Budget:

ECONOMY
-Mr Darling expects the 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%.
-Growth of 1.25% forecast for 2010.
-From 2011, growth of 3.5% per annum forecast.
-Inflation expected to continue to come down sharply, to 1% by the end of the
year.
-Deficit expected to halve in four years.
-Budget measures represent fiscal easing of 0.5% of GDP this year.
-Public sector borrowing to hit £175 billion this year - 12% of GDP - but to
fall to 9.1% 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
-More help for homeowners out of work to reduce repossessions.
-Stamp duty holiday on homes up to £175,000 extended to end of year.

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% on incomes above £150,000 will be increased to 50% and take effect from next
April - a year early.
-Alcohol duties will go up by 2% from midnight tonight. There will be an
increase in tobacco duty of 2% from 6pm tonight. 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% of
GDP after 2013.

ENVIRONMENT
-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%.
-Chancellor, presenting the world's first carbon budget, committed Britain to
cut carbon emissions by 34% by 2020.
-£435 million of extra support to deliver energy efficiency measures for
homes, firms and public buildings.
-£525 million new funds and support for offshore wind projects.
-£4 billion more for renewable energy projects.
-New power plants exempt from climate change levy from 2013.

TECHNOLOGY
-Extra funding to extend broadband network.
-£750 million strategic investment fund announced to help emerging
technologies.

FAMILIES AND PENSIONS
-From April next year, child element of child tax credit up £20.
-Grandparents who are carers of children will see that work qualify towards
state pension.
-Pensions will rise in real terms.
-Winter fuel allowance for pensioners to be maintained.
-Capital disregard on Pension Credit to be raised from £6,000 to £10,000 from
November.