The pre-budget statement
On November 8, Gordon Brown, the chancellor, delivered his pre-budget speech to parliament. We explain the decisions that were made, their political impact, and how they affect you.Fuel
Brown's £4.7bn to buy off protesters
Gordon Brown yesterday unveiled concessions worth up to £4.7bn next year as he sought to appease pensioners and fuel protesters without throwing away his hard-won reputation for fiscal prudence. Brown's green gambit
Pump ploy: Gordon Brown yesterday sought to appease angry protests by hauliers, farmers and motorists with a £2bn package of cuts in road taxes and fuel. Brown woos greens and motorists
Cut in duty: £1.5bn package of measures to encourage drivers to switch to greener fuels and cut the cost of motoring. Protest gets lost in detail
Hauliers: "It's just spin." Pensions
More money on the table for the elderly
Pensions raised and winter allowance increased. But no restoration of link between pensions and earnings. Out of step
Eyewash to fool us, say pensioners. Something for everyone
£30,000 each for heads to repair schools
Education: Head teachers to get up to £30,000 each to spend tackling urgent repairs to school buildings after the chancellor found that not all the money from the windfall tax had been spent. £1bn gives heart to inner cities
Urban blight: £1bn to regenerate Britain's blighted inner city areas by boosting investment and enterprise. Boost for child tax credit
Families: Some 5m families could be up to £520 a year better off if the chancellor delivers on a promise to increase the new family tax relief, the children's tax credit, which is due to replace the married couple's allowance next April. Carey hails cheaper church repairs
Heritage: Archbishop of Canterbury welcomes possible VAT cut on church repairs. Drug firms win help to combat the killers
Help from Treasury to cut the cost of developing affordable vaccines for killer diseases in developing countries, such as Aids, malaria and tuberculosis. Small businesses offered flat-rate
The smallest businesses will be able to calculate their VAT in a new way, which tax experts say should free up the administrative burden they face. Economy shaping up well for the election
Britain's economy is expected to be in good shape in 2001, the year widely tipped to see the next general election. Comment and analysis
Prudence rules in battle to placate critics
Larry Elliott: There's now not a lot of difference between the pre-Budget report in the autumn and the real thing in the spring.A nice warm feeling, Gordon
Polly Toynbee: It's a pity Britain's still a slum All is well in Gordonland
Simon Hoggart: We all love Gordon Brown's budget statements. Mr Brown goes to town
Leader: This should take the punch out of protest. Giveaway holds back best for later
Mark Atkinson: Gordon Brown set the stage for modest pre-election tax cuts by maintaining an ultra-cautious approach to managing the public finances. Brown tries to be prudent and political
Pamela Meadows: The proposals announced yesterday were driven by electoral rather than economic balancing, aimed at the over-55s. Personal finance
Advisers' ties and Isa age limit are cut
Revolution in selling of pensions and investments.Business reaction
Thumbs up from Square Mile
Measures create few ripples in London financial markets with dealers more concerned with the outcome of US election.Call for clarity in pensions investments
Review says pension rules should be scrapped and replaced with a more "open and transparent" regime. A lesson on dogma and pragmatism
Has the revolution in the UK's technological industry happened due to Gordon Brown's policies or despite them? Just the job
Start-up welcomes extra recruitment lure. Let's drink to small business success
An entrepeneur explains what the government has done for the business culture. Short changed
Bricks and mortar not the whole story for publisher Tax break for risk takers' shares
Start-up businesses yesterday welcomed new tax breaks on share option schemes, but were disappointed that changes will not come into force for nine months. Tax relief could be used to foster R&D
Scientists yesterday welcomed measures announced in the pre-Budget statement aimed at fostering further research and development in Britain.
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