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| Budget 2013: Osborne to help those 'who want to get on' | Budget 2013: Osborne to help those 'who want to get on' |
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| George Osborne has said he will "tackle the economy's problems head on" when he outlines his fourth Budget later. | George Osborne has said he will "tackle the economy's problems head on" when he outlines his fourth Budget later. |
| In a message ahead of the annual statement, due at 1230 GMT, the chancellor said he would help "those who want to work hard and get on". | In a message ahead of the annual statement, due at 1230 GMT, the chancellor said he would help "those who want to work hard and get on". |
| The government is under pressure after output shrank at the end of 2012 and the UK lost its triple A credit rating. | The government is under pressure after output shrank at the end of 2012 and the UK lost its triple A credit rating. |
| There will be more cuts to fund infrastructure projects but Labour is urging Mr Osborne to "change course". | There will be more cuts to fund infrastructure projects but Labour is urging Mr Osborne to "change course". |
| However, the government has vowed to stick with its central plan to cut the deficit. Ahead of the Budget, figures showed unemployment has increased for the first time in a year, rising by 7,000 to 2.52 million in the three months to January. | |
| Mr Osborne will start speaking in the House of Commons straight after the half hour Prime Minister's Questions, which starts at noon. | Mr Osborne will start speaking in the House of Commons straight after the half hour Prime Minister's Questions, which starts at noon. |
| Amongst media speculation about likely measures, The Sun said he would scrap next month's 6p rise in the cost of a pint of beer and would abolish the "beer duty escalator" where prices rise by 2% above inflation every year. | Amongst media speculation about likely measures, The Sun said he would scrap next month's 6p rise in the cost of a pint of beer and would abolish the "beer duty escalator" where prices rise by 2% above inflation every year. |
| The Guardian said the chancellor may delay a planned rise in fuel duty due in September while The Times said he planned to offer help to "homebuyers, small businesses and cash-strapped households". | The Guardian said the chancellor may delay a planned rise in fuel duty due in September while The Times said he planned to offer help to "homebuyers, small businesses and cash-strapped households". |
| The Daily Mail says the chancellor will "unlock £4.8bn in child trust funds and allow parents to transfer their investments into more generous junior ISAs". | The Daily Mail says the chancellor will "unlock £4.8bn in child trust funds and allow parents to transfer their investments into more generous junior ISAs". |
| Schools protected | Schools protected |
| In a message on the micro-blogging website Twitter, Mr Osborne said his Budget would "tackle the economy's problems head on" and help "those who want to work hard & get on". | In a message on the micro-blogging website Twitter, Mr Osborne said his Budget would "tackle the economy's problems head on" and help "those who want to work hard & get on". |
| Conservative MPs have called for tax cuts and a spending freeze, while Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable has led calls for an increase in capital spending, to build roads and houses. | Conservative MPs have called for tax cuts and a spending freeze, while Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable has led calls for an increase in capital spending, to build roads and houses. |
| On Tuesday, the chancellor told cabinet colleagues they will have to cut 2% of their departments' spending over the next two years, saving about £2.5bn, and this money will be used to fund projects to benefit the economy. | On Tuesday, the chancellor told cabinet colleagues they will have to cut 2% of their departments' spending over the next two years, saving about £2.5bn, and this money will be used to fund projects to benefit the economy. |
| Both Prime Minister David Cameron and Mr Osborne have have ruled out extra borrowing to fund measures designed to boost growth. | Both Prime Minister David Cameron and Mr Osborne have have ruled out extra borrowing to fund measures designed to boost growth. |
| Instead, the additional 2% departmental cuts - which come on top of the 3% spending reductions announced for the next two years in last year's Autumn Statement - will be used to boost capital spending. | Instead, the additional 2% departmental cuts - which come on top of the 3% spending reductions announced for the next two years in last year's Autumn Statement - will be used to boost capital spending. |
| The move, which will see health, schools and overseas aid protected, has been made possible by under-spending by government departments this year. | The move, which will see health, schools and overseas aid protected, has been made possible by under-spending by government departments this year. |
| As well as additional cuts, Mr Osborne is also expected to set out the "spending envelope" - the total amount of spending available to departments - in the forthcoming Spending Review, which will take place on 26 June. | As well as additional cuts, Mr Osborne is also expected to set out the "spending envelope" - the total amount of spending available to departments - in the forthcoming Spending Review, which will take place on 26 June. |
| The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the state of the public finances gave the chancellor little room for manoeuvre, while the latest economic forecasts to be announced on Wednesday were likely to be gloomy. | The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the state of the public finances gave the chancellor little room for manoeuvre, while the latest economic forecasts to be announced on Wednesday were likely to be gloomy. |
| After Mr Osborne had to reverse a number of proposed tax changes in the last year's Budget following criticism, Nick Robinson said the chancellor would be determined this year's package "held together" and was regarded as being "straight and competent". | After Mr Osborne had to reverse a number of proposed tax changes in the last year's Budget following criticism, Nick Robinson said the chancellor would be determined this year's package "held together" and was regarded as being "straight and competent". |
| Lord Heseltine, the government's regional growth adviser, told the BBC the chancellor had "vision" about what to do and knew that the "pent-up energy" of entrepreneurs and businesses had to released if the recovery was to be fulfilled. | Lord Heseltine, the government's regional growth adviser, told the BBC the chancellor had "vision" about what to do and knew that the "pent-up energy" of entrepreneurs and businesses had to released if the recovery was to be fulfilled. |
| But Labour leader Ed Miliband said the chancellor must be prepared "to change course, not to offer more of the same, because his economic plan is failing". | But Labour leader Ed Miliband said the chancellor must be prepared "to change course, not to offer more of the same, because his economic plan is failing". |
| Mr Osborne is expected to announce government policy on alcohol pricing, following reports the government has ditched plans for a 45p-per-unit minimum alcohol price in England and Wales. | Mr Osborne is expected to announce government policy on alcohol pricing, following reports the government has ditched plans for a 45p-per-unit minimum alcohol price in England and Wales. |
| If the beer escalator is scrapped, the chancellor may also feel under pressure to increase taxes on cheap but strong alcoholic drinks, Nick Robinson added. | If the beer escalator is scrapped, the chancellor may also feel under pressure to increase taxes on cheap but strong alcoholic drinks, Nick Robinson added. |
| A boost for house-building and an extension of the government's NewBuy scheme, which helps people with small deposits buy newly built homes, may also be included in the Budget. | A boost for house-building and an extension of the government's NewBuy scheme, which helps people with small deposits buy newly built homes, may also be included in the Budget. |
| Inflation target | Inflation target |
| And there has been speculation the chancellor may look at changing the remit of the Bank of England to help the economy get back to sustained growth. | And there has been speculation the chancellor may look at changing the remit of the Bank of England to help the economy get back to sustained growth. |
| There is talk that the chancellor will alter the 2% inflation target mandate set for the Bank of England's interest rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee in his Budget. | There is talk that the chancellor will alter the 2% inflation target mandate set for the Bank of England's interest rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee in his Budget. |
| Canadian Mark Carney, who takes over as Governor in July, has expressed interest in expanding the Bank's role in some way, potentially targeting growth or unemployment alongside its current inflation target. | Canadian Mark Carney, who takes over as Governor in July, has expressed interest in expanding the Bank's role in some way, potentially targeting growth or unemployment alongside its current inflation target. |
| Ahead of the Budget the government announced plans for some parents in the UK to be able to claim back up to £1,200 a year for each child - or 20% of childcare costs - from 2015. | Ahead of the Budget the government announced plans for some parents in the UK to be able to claim back up to £1,200 a year for each child - or 20% of childcare costs - from 2015. |
| Meanwhile, members of the UK's largest civil service union, the Public and Commercial Services Union, are staging a 24-hour strike on Wednesday in a dispute over pay, pensions and working conditions. | Meanwhile, members of the UK's largest civil service union, the Public and Commercial Services Union, are staging a 24-hour strike on Wednesday in a dispute over pay, pensions and working conditions. |
| Government departments, driving test centres, museums and job centres are among workplaces expected to be hit while a rally will be held at Westminster while Mr Osborne delivers his Budget. | |