A snapshot of the key announcements contained in Gordon Brown's eighth Budget.

Growth

• A Budget to "lock in economic stability".

• Britain enjoying "longest period of sustained growth since the industrial revolution".

• Growth in 2003 2.3 per cent, meeting last year's forecast.

• Growth forecast at 3-3.5 per cent this year and next year and 2.5-3 per cent in 2006.

• Inflation forecast at 1.75 per cent this year and two per cent next year.

Euro

• No euro assessment this year, but single currency tests will be repeated alongside next year's Budget.

Housing

• Barker recommendation on property windfall tax to be subject to a year-long review.

• Government accepts the Barker recommendations on Real Estate Investment Trusts.

Borrowing

• "Golden rule" and "sustainable investment rule" will be met over the economic cycle, with overall surplus of £11 billion.

Spending

• £1 billion this year and £2 billion in future years set aside in reserve for defence and war on terrorism.

• Summer spending review to increase international development, defence, education, science and police budgets in real terms.

• Capital investment in schools to increase from £6 billion this year to £8.1 billion in 2008.

• Surestart funding to increase by 17 per cent each year.

• Higher education budget to increase "towards 50 per cent participation target", with real terms increases for universities.

• Additional £100 for every pensioner household on top of winter fuel payment.

Tax

• Climate change, air passenger and betting taxes all frozen, as are the aggregates levy and stamp duty.

• Inheritance tax frozen, with more estates to be exempt.

• Film tax relief to be paid directly to filmmakers.

• Eight pence put on a packet of cigarettes, in line with inflation.

• One penny put on a pint of beer, but more relief for beer production.

• Four pence put on bottle of wine, but not sparkling wine.

• Spirits duty frozen for remainder of parliament.

• "Duty paid" stamping of spirits bottles to go ahead, but with help for producers to make change.

• Full VAT relief for church repairs.

• Single lifetime allowance for pensions tax to be introduced, set at £1.5 million from April 2006.

Public sector

• Lyons review on Whitehall relocation accepted.

• Department for Work and Pensions to cut budget by five per cent by 2008, with 30,000 jobs to go.

• Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue to merge, with 10,500 jobs to go.

• Department for Education to cut Whitehall staff by 31 per cent by 2008.

• All departments to cut administration budgets by 5 per cent by 2008.