Autumn statement

Tough day for Osborne.

Opinion Former Comments

Unemployment high, wages low - life in Tory Britain

Public and Commercial Services union general secretary Mark Serwotka comments on today's unemployment and pay figures...

NUT survey on Funding for Sixth Form Sector

A survey of 450 NUT members in Sixth Form Colleges showed that an overwhelming 90% believed that funding cuts are impacting negatively on their students’ education. Cuts to staffing and courses, removal of the Education Maintenance Allowance and larger class sizes were all mentioned as contributing factors.

CIOT: Offshore disclosure – HMRC in it for the long haul

The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has welcomed today’s setting out by HMRC of their comprehensive strategy for countering offshore tax evasion in today’s document “No Safe Havens - HMRC Offshore Evasion Strategy” document.1

CPA: Budget for UK business and housing welcomed

The Construction Products Association welcomes the Chancellor’s strong commitment to making the UK a good place for business. This year’s Budget Statement has clearly shown support for UK manufacturing through a variety of key initiatives.

IET: Small business investment is a short term fix that needs long term support

Increased Government funding towards the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) must be supported by a consistent approach and further assistance, according to the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

BFAWU: Tax allowance increase welcome, but will be "wiped out" by cuts

Child care assistance is useful but the real terms cuts made to family tax credits, and the attacks on our members pay means any financial support they receive in 2015 will have been wiped out in the years running up to its introduction.

CIHT: Is infrastructure a budget priority?

CIHT welcomes the 2013 Budget’s acknowledgement that infrastructure is a key economic policy priority. Investment in a fully functioning transport infrastructure is essential to underpinning a successful economy and has been at the forefront of CIHT’s vision for a prosperous economic future for the UK.

CIOT: Concerns over procurement process rules heeded

The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has welcomed the government’s significant changes to the proposed rules governing how those firms applying for public contracts have to conduct their tax affairs.

CIOT: NIC cut offers welcome relief for employers

The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) has welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement of a £2,000 cut in employers’ national insurance contributions for all businesses and charities from April 2014. This should make it easier and less expensive for new and growing businesses to take on new staff.

CIOT: Childcare initiatives must work in tandem

Two new initiatives in the Budget to help with childcare costs could reduce complexity for parents and their employers, but only if they are developed together, say the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG).

29/11/11

George Osborne is set to unveil downgraded economic growth forecasts to MPs later.

The chancellor will present updated figures from the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) in his autumn statement, set to begin at 12:30 GMT.

The OBR revised 2011's growth forecast from 2.3% 12 months ago to 1.7% in March. GDP growth for 2012 was predicted at the time of this year's Budget to be 2.5%, with growth in 2013 and 2014 of 2.9%.

Those figures are set to be cut again by the OBR after six months of turmoil in the eurozone and depressed consumer confidence.

Fawcett Society: Bad situation gets worse for women

TUC: All Osborne's assumptions have been wrong

IPPR: Squeezing living standards is wrong

TaxPayers' Alliance: Still more tax cuts needed

Plaid: Evidence of a stagnating economy

Friends of the Earth: A wintery blast for the economy

UCU: This is just a repackage

Oxfam: Pushing more people into poverty

Unite: Osborne has put us in a tailspin

Bob Crow: This is class war

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MRSA Action UK Annual Memorial Event

Families will pay tribute and remember those lost to MRSA and healthcare associated infections at Westminster Abbey on Thursday 13th June 2013

BSIA: Information Destruction Exhibition & Conference 2013

Following the great success of the BSIA's Information Destruction Conference and Exhibition in May 2012, we are pleased to annouce that the event is returning again in June 2013. This one-day conference and exhibition is aimed at key decision makers in organisations that carry out the secure destruction of confidential material.