a:3:{s:7:"widgets";a:2:{i:0;a:7:{s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:4:"text";s:2639:"<p>The Chancellor presented his Budget to Parliament on 22nd November 2017</p>
<p><strong>Here's a summary of what was announced.</strong><br /> 1. The economic forecast: UK economy will grow by 2% in 2017. The OBR also forecast that the economy will grow at a slightly slower rate in 2018, before picking up to 2% in 2021.<br /> 2. Cutting borrowing and stabilising the public finances: Britain has a debt of nearly £1.7 trillion – around £62,000 for every household in the country. Borrowing is forecast to be reduced by nearly three quarters by 2016-17.<br /> 3. £2 billion for adult social care over the next three years: This will help councils to provide high quality social care to more people and help to ease pressure on the NHS.<br /> 4. £425 million investment in the NHS in the next three years<br /> 5. Investment in technical education for 16 to 19 year olds rising to over £500 million<br /> 6. £300 million investment for new academic research placements<br /> 7. Loans for part time and doctoral students from 2018<br /> 8. £536 million for new free schools and to maintain existing schools<br /> 9. Free transport for children from poorer families who go to selective schools<br /> 10. Tax-Free Childcare will soon be available to working parents<br /> 11. New ways to protect consumer from un necessary costs and inefficiencies.<br /> 12. £270 million to launch the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund<br /> 13. Improving transport with the National Productivity Investment Fund<br /> 14. A new strategy to make the UK a world leader in 5G technology<br /> 15. A three-year NS&amp;I Investment Bond with a market-leading interest rate of 2.2% The bond will be available for 12 months from April 2017.<br /> 16. The Lifetime ISA will be available from 6 April this year<br /> 17. Marking International Women’s Day: A new £5 million fund will go to projects celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act<br /> 18. Small Businesses and landlords under the VAT threshold will have an extra year to prepare for Making Tax Digital (MTD)<br /> 19. £435 million to support businesses affected by the business rates relief revaluation<br /> 20. The main rate of National Insurance contributions (NICs) for the self-employed will increase<br /> From 2018, Class 2 NICs will be abolished. Class 4 NICs will rise to 10% in April 2018 and to 11% in April 2019. Taken together, only a self-employed person with profits over £16,250 will have to pay more as a result of these changes.<br /> 21. Tax-free dividend allowance will be reduced from £5,000 to £2,000 from April 2018.</p>
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