Chancellor Gordon Brown today launched his tenth Budget insisting it would further strengthen the British economy.
Mr Brown told a packed Commons: ''The British economy is strong and strengthening.''
Inflation was currently 2% and on target.
Mr Brown said Britain was enjoying its tenth year of growth under a Labour Government and this Budget would further strengthen the country's position.
''Most of all this is a Budget for Britain's future to secure fairness for each child and invest in every child.'' He also announced a a recruitment drive for 3,000 new science teachers as he placed skills and education at the heart of his Budget.
How the Budget affects motorists: Mr Brown today slapped a £210 road tax bill on new ''gas guzzling'' cars as he sought to establish his green credentials.
Drivers with cleaner engines would have their road tax cut to just £40 while the ''greenest'' cars would pay nothing at all.
However, the Chancellor also risked the wrath of the environmental lobby by announcing a further freeze on fuel duty until September while leaving the air passenger tax unchanged.
The new top rate of vehicle excise duty of £210 will hit the most polluting new cars - affecting 1% of vehicles on the road.
But Mr Brown said the number of motorists paying the lower rate of £100 or less would increase from 300,000 to three million.
From today, Vehicle Excise Duty rates will be zero, £40 and then £100, £125, £150, £190 and a new band of £210 for new cars that are the most polluting.
Zero rate of Vehicle Excise Duty for a small number of cars with the lowest carbon emissions, and £40 duty for cars with low emissions
How the Budget affects drinkers and smokers: Mr Brown put 9p on 20 cigarettes, 4p on a bottle of wine and 1p on a pint of beer.
Duty on whisky, other spirits and cider frozen.
He added: ''In anticipation of World Cup success this summer, I am freezing duty on champagne ... and on British sparkling wine.''
How the Budget affects your children: Tax-free childcare voucher to be increased from £50 to £55 a week.
Child Trust Fund payments of £250 and £500 at age seven for those with existing accounts.
Child benefit to be increased on April 10 to £17.45.
For a full breakdown of Gordon Brown's latest budget see Thursday's Daily Echo
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