Autumn Statement round up

Thanks to the BBC being quick off the mark, here are the key points from today's Autumn Statement by the Chancellor, George Osborne.

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FUEL

The 3p-a-litre increase in fuel duty, planned for next January, is cancelled

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Predicted to be -0.1% in 2012, down from 0.8% predicted in the Budget
Forecasts for next few years are: 1.2% in 2013, 2% in 2014, 2.3% 2015, 2.7% in 2016 and 2.8% in 2017

BENEFITS AND PENSIONS

Most working-age benefits to rise by 1% for each of next three years
From 2014-15 lifetime pension relief allowance to fall from £1.5m to £1.25m
Basic state pension to rise by 2.5% next year to £110.15 a week
Child benefit to rise by 1% for two years from April 2014
Local housing allowance rates to rise in line with existing policy next April but increases in the following two years capped at 1%
Changes to welfare to save £3.7bn by 2015/16

TAXES AND ALLOWANCES

Basic income tax threshold to be raised by £235 more than previously announced next year, to £9,440
Threshold for 40% rate of income tax to rise by 1% in 2014 and 2015, from £41,450 to £41,865 and then £42,285
Main rate of corporation tax to be cut by extra 1% to 21% from April 2014
Inheritance tax threshold to be increased by 1% next year
Bank levy rate to be increased to 0.130% next year.
£5bn over six years expected from treaty with Switzerland to deal with undisclosed bank accounts
HM Revenue and Customs budget will not be cut
ISA contribution limit to be raised to £11,520 from next April
Prosecutions for tax evasions up 80% - with anti-abuse rule to come in next year
No new tax on property value
No net rise in taxes in Autumn Statement

GOVERNMENT BORROWING/SPENDING

Point at which debt predicted to begin falling delayed by a year to 2016/17
Deficit forecast to fall this year, as is cash borrowing
Deficit to fall from 7.9% to 6.9% of GDP this year, and to continue falling to 1.6% by 2017/18
Borrowing forecast to fall from £108bn this year to £31bn in 2017/18
£33bn saving to be made on interest debt payment predicted two years ago
Deficit fallen by a quarter in last two years
Government spending as share of GDP predicted to fall from 48% in 2009/10 to 39.5% in 2017/18
Spending review to take place in first half of next year
Departments to reduce spending by 1% next year and 2% year after

JOBS AND TRAINING

Unemployment expected to peak at 8.3%
Employment set to rise in each year of the parliament

TRANSPORT

Extra £1bn to roads, including upgrading A1, A30, and M25
£1bn loan to extend London's Northern Line to Battersea

EDUCATION AND FAMILIES

£1bn to improve good schools and build 100 new free schools and academies
£270m for further education colleges

INFRASTRUCTURE

Ultra-fast broadband expansion in 12 cities
£600m for scientific research
Annual infrastructure investment now £33bn
£1bn extra capital for Business Bank
Gas Strategy to include consultation on incentives for shale gas

OVERSEAS AID

Promise to spend 0.7% on development to be honoured next year, but not exceeded