What to expect in Brown’s final Budget

The key points raised by pundits ahead of today ’s Budget

GIVING BACK:

ISA investments

Current limit to be raised in line with inflation.

Pension pay-outs

Employees who lost most or all of their final salary pensions to be compensated with lump sum pay-outs.

Income tax

Thresholds to be raised in line with inflation.

Green incentives

Tax exemptions for households that sell excess power back to the National Grid will encourage use of carbon-free energy sources.

Inheritance tax

Threshold at which it becomes payable on an estate (currently £285,000) to be raised in line with inflation.

Education

Three-year funding commitment will try to make good on pledge to raise state school spending-per-pupil to level of private schools.

R&D

Increase in the £1.8bn tax credit scheme for small and large companies to help with research and development.

Small business taxes

To be simplified to appease entrepreneurs.

TAKING AWAY:

Road tax

Owners of 'gas guzzlers' to pay £400 a year.

Green tax

Owners of homes and business that are out of line with government targets will be penalised.

Job cuts

Tens of thousands of jobs in the public sector to be cut.

FIRST POSTED MARCH 20, 2006