The chancellor will this week put the finishing touches to a budget which is set to deliver the first "visible" tax increases since Labour came to office.

Following a PR offensive, Gordon Brown is expected to announce tax increases to fund the government's NHS reform programme when he goes to parliament next week.

Over recent months, ministers from the prime minister downwards have been preparing public opinion for a tax hike.

Forum Response: Age Concern

A spokesman for Age Concern told ePolitix.com: "Public consensus has shown that the government needs to provide a joined up pension policy of which the basic state pension remains the foundation, not only to benefit pensioners today but also to inspire people to save for their future retirement.

"A recent Age Concern/MORI poll highlighted the fact that only one in five people (21 per cent) is satisfied with the government's record on tackling pensioner poverty. These findings reveal that the government is judged more critically on its record for reducing pensioner poverty than other key issues, including improving education and the general standard of living.

"We would like the chancellor to give some clarity to the pensions system, to enable people to have more confidence about their income in retirement. Since the government came into power it has made a number of measures to improve older people's incomes but it has become very difficult for people to understand what they are or will be getting in retirement. Our recent findings demonstrate the public feelings of confusion, insecurity and fear around future pension provision.

"No government has ever carried out a thorough assessment of pensioner needs and living costs, yet this is fundamental for reform. In order for the government to work out a clear, consistent and effective pension strategy it must come up with its own properly researched answer to the question - how much is enough to live on?

"Once we have the answer to this question, we urge the government to set targets for the reduction of pensioner poverty, in the same way it has made bold pledges to end child poverty. This would enable us to adequately assess the scale of the problem and judge government performance.

"Age Concern is in favour of an increase in spending on health and we will be looking with close interest at the measures announced by the government in the Budget. However, an increase in health spending alone is not enough to meet the needs of older people.

"An increase in social care spending is important to ensure individuals get the appropriate support in the community that they need; to enable them to make choices about where they live. Adequately funded health and social care in the community could prevent many people having to stay longer in hospital unnecessarily, having to go into hospital in the first place or being re-admitted after a short time."

Forum Response: British Retail Consortium

Bill Moyes, director general of the British Retail Consortium, told ePolitix.com: "Retail is currently one of the few industries making a positive contribution to the growth of the British economy. The BRC is firmly of the opinion that the strength of consumer spending is keeping the UK out of recession.

"Retailers have shown that innovative and resilient strategies can attract shoppers and keep prices down. Retail is one of the few growth sectors creating 74 per cent net new jobs in the year to June 2001. Our most recent press releases indicate that retail continues to show stable growth, which is being achieved despite a very competitive market place.

"However, as an engine of growth and economic prosperity the sector's influence reaches beyond broad economics to impact on all aspects of the government's domestic priorities and social agenda.

"Our budget submission to the Treasury, Defending Quality of Life sets out clearly how the retail sector is affected by the policies of almost every government department. Retailers are already working with officials on a range of issues that will allow the government to demonstrate that public service delivery is improving. For example, the BRC publishes annually a Retail Crime Survey for both England and Wales and Scotland. The report shows that retail crime partnerships between retailers, local authorities and law enforcement bodies achieves a safer shopping environment and creates a foundation for further social improvement.

"The retail sector is involved at many levels through specific initiatives to develop transport schemes and promote neighbourhood renewal to collaboration in Business Improvement Districts projects. However, such regeneration efforts are often restricted by over zealous regulation, high business rates and unsympathetic planning policy.

"We accept that business costs are a part of any market economy but would argue that in order for retailers to continue to tackle social exclusion and assist promoting a better quality of life at all levels the government should offer incentives. For example, tax breaks for implementing retail crime measures. Continual demands on a retail businesses bottom line will ultimately result in costs being passed on to consumers."