George Osborne steps up at 11:15 this morning for the Autumn Statement
With the government unveiling the new 鈥 and a package of r 鈥 there has already been much this week for the industry to chew on.
Will the chancellor have any more surprises in store today?
Certainly much of the focus will be on the improvement in the economy, with Osborne set to hail greatly improved growth forecasts.
Yet he is also expected to stress that more austerity and spending cuts remain lie ahead 鈥 and is unlikely to announce any new capital spending for construction.
However, for a primer for what the industry could expect from the chancellor,
Meanwhile, see below for full coverage of the key announcements, as they are made 鈥 and follow @黑洞社区News for live tweets.
Autumn Statement 2014 - key announcements for construction:
- Think tank the Resolution Foundation has published a useful guide to
- Osborne begins by saying Britain鈥檚 economic plan is working, but stresses that the job is not done - is seeking a 鈥渞esponsible recovery鈥: 鈥淲e have held our nerve while those - who predicted there would be no growth until we turned the spending taps back on - have been proved comprehensively wrong鈥
- 鈥淵es, the deficit is down. But it is still far too high and today we take more difficult decisions.Yes, the forecasts show that growth is up.But the same forecasts show growth in productivity is still too low and today we set out further economic reforms.鈥
- From OBR: The fall in GDP from peak to trough between 2008 and 2009 was not 6.3 per cent, as previously thought - but instead was an even more staggering 7.2 per cent.
拢112 billion wiped off our economy - around 拢3000 for every household in this country, and one of the sharpest falls in the national income of any economy in the world. - Growth forcecasts: At the time of the Budget in March, the OBR forecast that growth this year would be 0.6 per cent. Today, they more than double that forecast 鈥 and estimate growth will be 1.4 per cent. Next year, instead of growth of 1.8 per cent, they are now forecasting 2.4 per cent. With faster growth now, it means they鈥檝e revised the following four years to 2.2 per cent, 2.6 per cent 2.7 per cent and 2.7 per cent
- Funding for measures to boost overseas trade doubled to 拢50bn
- Borrowing: This year we will borrow 拢111 billion - 拢9 billion less than was feared in March. That falls next year to 拢96 billion, then down to 拢79 billion in 2015-16, 拢51 billion the year after, and 拢23 billion the year after that.
- Departmental spending: This year they are expected to underspend by 拢7 billion, a testament to good financial management.We can therefore be confident in reducing the contingency reserve by 拢1 billion this year and reducing departmental budgets by a similar amount in the next two years.This will save a further 拢3 billion in total.The protections for the NHS and schools will apply 鈥.So non-ringfenced departments face an extra 拢1bn of cuts until 2015.
- Package of measures to tackle tax avoidance, tax evasion, fraud and error so far this Parliament - will raise over 拢9 billion over the next five years.
- On infrastructure - announces a commitment to invest in quantum technology; plus a new tax allowance to encourage investment in shale gas that halves tax rates on early profits - and a new physics centre at Edinburgh University named after Prof Pete Higgs
- Housing: 鈥 announces a billion pounds of loans to unblock large housing developments on sites in Manchester and Leeds and across the country 鈥 says government will increase the Housing Revenue Account borrowing limit by 拢300 million 鈥 says councils will sell off the most expensive social housing, so they can house many more families for the same money 鈥 says government will give working people in social housing a priority right to move if they need to for a job 鈥
- Apprenticeships: 鈥 here will now be an additional 20,000 higher apprenticeships over the next two years.
- Enterprise: 鈥 announces a big expansion of Start Up Loans, through which a new generation of entrepreneurs is being created 鈥 50,000 more people will be helped to fulfil their aspiration to start their own business 鈥 says government will extend the New Enterprise Allowance too.
- Capital gains tax: Britain is an open country that welcomes investment from all over the world, including investment in our residential property 鈥 But it鈥檚 not right that those who live in this country pay capital gains tax when they sell a home that is not their primary residence 鈥 while those who don鈥檛 live here do not 鈥 That is unfair 鈥 So from April 2015, we will introduce capital gains tax on future gains made by non residents who sell residential property here in the UK 鈥 I can also announce, from January 1st next year, the rate of the bank levy will rise to 0.156 per cent and its base will be broadened in ways we have consulted on 鈥 The levy will raise 拢2.7 billion in 2014-15 and 拢2.9 billion each year from 2015-16.
- Extends business rate relief for another year - plus announces rates relief for new retailers: To get the vacant shops that blight too many town centres to open again, I am introducing a new reoccupation relief that will halve the rates for new occupants鈥o I can announce today that for the next two years every retail premise in England with a rateable value of up to 拢50,000 will get a discount on their business rates鈥 This discount will be worth 拢1000 off their bills.
- Cancels next year鈥檚 fuel duty rise 鈥
- National insurance: Employer national insurance contributions will be removed altogether on a million and a half jobs for young people 鈥 The cost for a business of employing a young person on a salary of 拢12,000 will fall by over 拢500 鈥 For someone on 拢16,000, that鈥檚 over 拢1,000 off 鈥. The change requires legislation 鈥 It will come into force in April 2015, and it won鈥檛 apply beyond the upper earnings limit.
And that鈥檚 that 鈥
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