THE main points of Gordon Brown's 2004 Budget speech:

• 600 new businesses starting up every day in Britain. New jobs being created at three times the rate of 70s and 80s.
• Since 1997, Britain sustained economic growth through two economic cycles.
• Growth in 2003 met Government forecast and grew by 2.3%.
• Claimant count unemployment 2.9%, lowest since 1973. Britain "closest to full employment in a generation".
• Expect domestic demand to grow 3.25% this year, 3.5% next year. Manufacturing output expected to grow 2% this year, more than 2% next year.
• "There must be no weakening of anti-inflation discipline," warns Brown.
• Inflation expected to be 1.75% this year, 2% next year and the year after.
• Deputy PM to consult on increasing affordable housing.
• Government accepts recommendations of Kate Barker's report on rented housing sector.
• More affordable housing and lower interest rates in country's interest, says Brown.
• Brown: "I will not neglect need for long term investment in our country."
• Average annual surplus of £11bn meeting "golden rule". Current budget moves back to balance at the end of the current period, and is on track to meet it next economic cycle.
• Average annual surplus of £11bn meeting "golden rule". Current budget moves back to balance at the end of the current period, and is on track to meet it next economic cycle.
• Debt is 33% national income, will rise to 36% in next five years.
• Net borrowing 3.4% GDP, falling to 1.6% GDP in five years. 2003/4 net borrowing £37.5bn.
• Now able to afford all existing commitments, including £6bn for war against terrorism - can set aside £1bn this year and £2bn next year as reserve for national expenditure.
• Stamp duty frozen.
• Inheritance tax frozen,starting point for inheritance tax to £263,000
• Air passenger duty, insurance premium tax, vehicle excise duty and the climate change levy all frozen.
• Corporation tax and capital gains tax frozen.
• 20,000 civil service jobs to be relocated from Whitehall to nations and regions.
• Firms with turnovers under £58,000 will not have to register for VAT from April 1.
• Sulphur-free fuel duty frozen for six months.
• British film makers to get 20% tax relief.
• 1p increase on beer, 4p increase on wine, but cider and sparkling wine frozen. Tax relief for small breweries doubled.
• Spirits to be stamped, duty frozen on spirits for lifetime of this government.
• 8p put on the price of cigarettes.
• Tax schemes for pensions to be replaced with single lifetime allowance, capped at £1.5m.
• Churches and sacred places will be able to reclaim all 17.5% of VAT.
• Government decided not to freeze or cut all international development aid.
• Administrative budgets on number of Government departments being cut, producing 2.5% efficiency savings.
• Customs and Inland Revenue to be merged, Brown confirms, with 14,000 jobs to go.
• NHS to receive real terms rise of 7.2% each year until 2008.
• Real terms increases in defence budget in the summer spending review.
Spending review will provide for "real term growth in our country," vows Brown.

• Government will work with scientific community to raise level of funding, to make Britain most attractive location for science and industry in world.
• 10 year framework for medical science unveiled.
• New incentives to encourage lone parents, incapacity benefit receivers and others to develop new skills in effort to get back to work, with every teenager to have offer of training and education to age 18.
• Employer Training Pilot scheme is to be be extended to the North East, Lancashire, the Black Country, Devon and Cornwall, Cambridgeshire and West Yorkshire.
• Primary focus on this spending round must be on excellence and diversity of provision throughout education, says Chancellor.
• 1000 new specialist schools to be designated, with 1700 children's centres to be built by 2008.
• Capital investment budget for education in England to rise to £8.1bn by 2008
• Sure Start, early education and child care funds to rise annually by 17%.
• Pensioners to receive extra £100 on top of the winter fuel payment, with pensioners over 80 receiving £400.