Here are the main points of Chancellor Alistair Darling's Budget:

• The Chancellor rose to deliver his Budget at 1231.
  
• Mr Darling expects the economy to begin to grow again by the end of this year.
  
• Total policy support for the UK economy is expected to protect up to 500,000 jobs.
  
• Forecast for GDP growth in 2009 is minus 3.5%.
  
• Growth of 1.25% forecast for 2010.
  
• From 2011, growth of 3.5% per annum forecast.
  
• Inflation expected to continue to come down sharply, to 1% by the end of the year.
  
• Deficit expected to halve in four years.
  
• Extra £1.7 billion for Job Centre Plus network.
  
• From January, everyone under 25 and out of work will receive a job or training.
  
• Pledge to create 250,000 extra jobs and £260 million extra for skills and training.
  
• For the next two years, £250 million and then £450 million to maintain 54,000 sixth form places.
  
• More help for homeowners out of work to reduce repossessions.
  
• Stamp duty holiday on homes up to £175,000 extended to end of year.
  
• Loss-making firms can reclaim tax on profits from past three years.
  
• Car industry scrappage scheme of £2,000 for cars over 10-years-old from next month to March 2010.

• Budget measures represent fiscal easing of 0.5% of GDP this year.
  
• Public sector borrowing to hit £175 billion this year - 12% of GDP - but to fall to 9.1% in two years.
  
• From April 2011 pension tax relief restricted for those on incomes over £150,000.
  
• No income tax increase this year, but the planned new top income tax rate of 45% on incomes above £150,000 will be increased to 50% and take effect from next April - a year early.
  
• Fuel duty will increase by 2p per litre in September and then by 1p a litre above indexation each April for the next four years.
  
• Alcohol duties will go up by 2% from midnight tonight. There will be an increase in tobacco duty of 2% from 6pm tonight. These measures will raise over £6 billion by 2012.
  
• £5 billion further efficiency savings in public services, rising to £9 billion by 2013/14.
  
• Capital investment to continue until the London Olympics, and to be 1.25% of GDP after 2013.
  
• Extra £1 billion to help climate change measures.
  
• £50 million to modernise armed forces housing.
  
• North Sea oil exploration incentives.
  
• Main capital allowance for firms doubled to 40%.
  
• Extra funding to extend broadband network.
  
• £750 million strategic investment fund announced to help emerging technologies.
  
• World's first carbon budget - £435 million extra for energy efficiency measures for businesses and homes.
  
• £525 million new funds and support for offshore wind projects.
  
• £4 billion more for renewable energy projects.
  
• New power plants exempt from climate change levy from 2013.
  
• From April next year, child element of child tax credit up £20.
  
• Grandparents who are carers of children will see that work qualify towards state pension.
  
• Pensions will rise in real terms.
  
• Winter fuel allowance for pensioners to be maintained.
  
• Capital disregard on Pension Credit to be raised from £6,000 to £10,000 from November.
  
• ISA savings tax free limit raised to £10,000 (£5,100 in cash) for over-50s this year and for everyone else next year.
  
• The Chancellor sat down at 1.21pm.