Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News Special 20171122

The nhs in england will receive an extra £2. 8 billion by 2020 with £350 million provided immediately to allow trusts to plan for the winter. The tax on tobacco continues to rise but theres a freeze on wine, cider and spirits and the fuel duty rise for both petrol and diesel is cancelled. Good afternoon from westminster where the chancellor, Philip Hammond, has delivered a budget which he said would make the uk fit for the future as an outward looking, free trading nation once it leaves the european union. But he had to announce dramatically downgraded growth forecasts for next five years from a previously announced 2 this year, to i. 5 . He told the commons that an extra £3 billion will be set aside over the next two years to prepare for brexit. The labour Leaderjeremy Corbyn said the chancellors statement was a record of failure with a forecast of more to come. Lets take a look at some of the main measures in todays budget. On housing, there was good news for people in england and wales wanting to purchase their first home with news that stamp duty for First Time Buyer purchases up to £300,000 is to be abolished immediately. The chancellor promised at least £41; billion of capital funding, loans and guarantees over five years, to support House Building. He said the government would commit to a long term goal to build 300,000 new homes a year by the mid 20205. The chancellor bowed to pressure over universal credit with a £i. 5 billion package to cut the waiting period for payments and make it easierfor claimants to receive an advance. £2. 8 billion will be provided in extra funding for the nhs in england £350 million immediately to address pressures this winter. Mr hammond also indicated that extra money could be available if the cap on nhs pay is lifted. Looking at the economy as a whole the chancellor delivered some sobering news. Lets look at the detail. He said the independent office for budget responsibility had downgraded its forecast for Economic Growth this year from 2 to i. 5 . He said that annual borrowing would be £49. 9 billion in 2017 2018, lower than forecast in the spring budget. And according to the obr, Government Debt will peak this year at 86. 5 of gdp before falling to 86. 4 next year. Forecasts suggest that it will continue to fall in subsequent years. Thats the picture for the economy as a whole. Much more discussion on that throughout the afternoon here at westminster. Lets also take a look now at some of the measures announced. There was good news for motorists as the chancellor announced that the annual rise in duty on petrol and diesel will be cancelled. Not such good news for smokers as Tobacco Products will continue to rise at inflation plus 2 . For drinkers, duty on beer, wine, spirits and most ciders will be frozen. But duty on high strength white ciders will be increased through new legislation. And as predicted, railcards offering discounted train travel will be extended to people up to 30 years old. Our Political Correspondent leila nathoo has this report. Are you boxed in, chancellor . He has been under pressure, but the chancellor this morning was putting ona chancellor this morning was putting on a brave face. Any tricks in your red box . Preparing to set out the journey ahead for the governments tax and spending plans, brexit looms large. There is not much cash in the kitty and there have been demands from some of his conservative collea g u es from some of his conservative colleagues for a big and bold budget to lift the partys post election gloom. In the commons, as the chancellor waited to deliver his statement, the Prime Minister insisted her government was putting the country first. Im optimistic about our future. Im optimistic about the success we can make of brexit. Im optimistic about the well paid jobs that will be created. Im optimistic about the homes we will build. Thats conservatives, building a britain fit for the future. I call the chancellor of the exchequer, Philip Hammond. Then it was Philip Hammonds turn at the dispatch box to set out his strategy. Insisting the government had been listening. We understand the frustration of families where real incomes are under pressure. So at this budget, we choose a balanced approach. Yes, maintaining fiscal responsibility as we at last see our debt peaking. Continuing to invest in the skills and infrastructure that will support the jobs of the future. Building the homes that will make good on our promise to the next generation. But crucially, also, helping families to cope with the cost of living. Despite his jovial tone, the chancellor revealed that the economy was now forecast to grow far slower than previously expected, but there was big talk on housing aimed at young people. With effect from today, for all First Time Buyer purchases up to £300,000, i am abolishing stamp duty altogether. And to make sure as many as possible benefit. To ensure this relief helps First Time Buyers in very high price areas like london, it will also be available on the first £300,000 of the Purchase Price of properties up to £500,000. Philip hammond announced changes to universal credit following intense political pressure, promising additionalfunding to political pressure, promising additional funding to cut waiting times for the payment and to make it quicker to claim an advance. There will be an extra £2. 8 billion for the nhs in england and more cash for schools which boost their numbers of maths students plus with plans to be at the fore front of tech. Labour has attacked the budget calling it a record of failure with a forecast of more to come. People were looking for help from this budget and they have been let down. Let down by a government that like the economy they presided over is weak and u nsta ble they presided over is weak and unstable and in need of urgent change. They call this a budget fit for the future. The reality is this isa for the future. The reality is this is a government no longer fit for office. This was a measured budget. No fireworks, no slip ups, the chancellor will hope he has done enough to convince the country and his own colleagues that he is the right man to remain in charge of the economy. Im joined by pauljohnson, director of the institute for fiscal studies. Joining me at a blustery westminster. We heard that little piece of Philip Hammond at the beginning of the hour saying, g rowth beginning of the hour saying, growth continues. But when you look at what is to come in future yea rs, look at what is to come in future years, the picture is not so healthy, paul . Well, the forecast is for growth which is better than the reverse , for growth which is better than the reverse, but its for a lot less growth than we were hoping for back in march. It is dramatic downgrade in forecast growth so back in march the obr, the official watchdog was saying we will get growth back to 2 a year within two or three years and now it is struggling back to i. 5 a year and thats a big difference and one of the reasons why the chancellor wasnt able to do much because he had no money to play with. Yes, if the forecasts are accurate then that continues for several years to come . Well, it looks like it might and the underlying thing here is the productivity problem and if you look at the figures here, it is something were not going to get a pay rise for another two years at least because productivity is doing badly and growth is doing badly and earnings arent rising and since about a year ago, earnings have started to fall again, relative to prices and it doesnt look like theyre going to pick up again for another couple of years. There has been a lot of focus on housing. The issue of intergenerational fairness and young people not being able to get on the housing ladder. Can we pick through the announcement for stamp duty. No stamp duty for First Time Buyers if they are buying a property up to £300,000. Very interesting though again when you look at what the longer term impact of that measure could be . In the long run, if you get rid of all stamp duty then the impact is clearly to increase house prices. It would be a good thing to do because stamp duty gums up the Housing Market. Now, what the chancellor is doing isjust getting rid of it for First Time Buyers so that would have an less effect on house prices and it will make First Time Buyers in a better position relative to second time and subsequent buyers, but if you reduce the stamp duty then it will have some impact on house prices, exactly how much when you do it for this group is hard to know. When one extrapolates over the longer term, the concern is the people who benefit are the people who are already homeowners, the person selling their house benefits if prices are going up. So in the long run you are not really helping First Time Buyers much . In the immediate future you might be . Because this is just for one group of buyers, exactly what the impact on house prices will be, we dont know, but it will certainly increase house prices to some extent and therefore, benefit those who are selling their house. That doesnt mean it is a bad change because stamp duty really does get in the way of the Housing Market working, but its not an obvious, its not the obvious Long Term Benefit to buyers that it might first at first sight seem. And the promise of money that we have seen, certain sums for the nhs, some immediate and some for capital expenditure, given the picture that you are painting and all the forecasts that were looking at today, there might be people watching this this afternoon thinking, where is that money for the nhs actually coming from . Is it clear . Two things. The amount of spending, the chancellor was promising the nhs was not particularly big. This will still be a tough few years for health. But secondly, it is clear where its coming from. Were going to be borrowing more. So whereasjust coming from. Were going to be borrowing more. So whereas just over a year ago, chancellor osborne was promising us a surplus by 2019, were now going to be borrowing about £35 billion in 2019. So a very big turn around and actually between just last marchs budget, a big increase in borrowing since then. So, the chancellor has just decided to borrow more than he was going to borrow. It is just about within the rules that he set himself. What he hasnt got much wiggle room left. Fiscal rules, that famous phrase, do you think politicians regret having the rules given that we are where we are . They dont mind breaking them we have had a lot of them and most of them have been broken. The chancellor says he is on course to meet the ones that he has got. But another downgrade in the growth forecast. Something goes wrong around brexit and we will be breaking them pretty quickly. He also wants to, we have had yet another statement about when we are going to get that famous budget balance. That looks tough and unlikely to me now i have to say. 0k, unlikely to me now i have to say. Ok, always good to hear your analysis, pauljohnson from the institute for fiscal studies. Our chief Political Correspondent vicki young is in the central lobby of the house of commons for us. Yes, always a day when the house of commons is completely packed with mps, listening to what the chancellor has to say and then, of course, trying to analyse what it all means. Lets discuss this further. I am joined all means. Lets discuss this further. Iam joined by all means. Lets discuss this further. I am joined by some politicians. First of all, the move on universal credit, something labour have been calling for presumably, you are pleased with that . It is really, really good news. I think it is disappointed that he has taken so long and so much energy goat to this point, but certainly some of the measures that are in there, it wont deal with all the issues, because i think there are fundamental problems with the system that need to be looked at, but it will alleviate some of the worst outcomes of the change over to universal credit. For you p what was the most striking thing that you heard the chancellor say today . For me this was a budget about the brexit bite and the productivity, growth outlooks have been downgraded. We are going to be £45 billion worse off as a nation by 2021. It is money that should be going into Public Services and i was so going into Public Services and i was so disappointed to not hear that we werent going to raise the public pay cap. Our teachers are desperate for a pay rise and our nhs workers andl for a pay rise and our nhs workers and i think they will take the budget as a slap in the face. Nicky morgan, how do you think looking at this, the government, your party, do you think they have given up on balancing the books . No, not at all. There is an ambition for the middle pa rt of there is an ambition for the middle part of the next decade, but there isa part of the next decade, but there is a recognition that more money is neededin is a recognition that more money is needed in the nhs and that actually people have made sacrifices over the la st people have made sacrifices over the last seven years so it is right to show flexibility. There is clearly a need for more investment in housing andl need for more investment in housing and i think what was good about the budget was the fact we didnt hear brexit mentioned all the time. It is like groundhog day in parliament, so hearing about technology and plans for the future, about challenges to how were going tackle the productivity puzzle and housing, the stamp duty duty change was welcome. What do you make of the nhs money . It isa what do you make of the nhs money . It is a lot that he has given to the nhs. He is responding to more calls for more money to the winter crisis and more money for investment in infrastructure . Nicky is right, brexit wasnt mentioned a great deal, but what was mentioned the cripingly slow growth in the country. The fact that the obr is expecting a far less investment from business to come in, that peoples real wages are down, that their disposable income is down and personal debt is up. This is not a good picture after seven years of a conservative government and it is worth remembering that they might be looking to tackle the debt and the deficit over the next ten years, but they said it would be paid down by now and they have failed repeatedly to do that. When it comes to the nhs, the nhs england, Simon Stevens was looking for £4 billion worth of investment to stave off a winter crisis circumstances but deal with the long term challenges around staffing making sure we can retain and train staff, but they are spending more on brexit preparations than they are on the nhs which i just think is a real tragedy and the Public Sector pay cap that the nhs staff have been crying out for a pay rise and it was not announced today and thats disappointing. When it comes to housing, the holiday on stamp duty for First Time Buyers. Is that something the liberal democrats are in favour of . We have always said the answer to this is partly House Building and i was disappointed by actually the ambition of the government for its owfi ambition of the government for its own House Building in particular, making sure that we have got enough affordable and social housing. That was missing. What i wanted to see was missing. What i wanted to see was borrowing by government at re cord was borrowing by government at record low levels right now so that the government themselves build. In oxfordshire, they announced £150 million to help with the infrastructure. What we have estimated is in fact if we are going to do 100,000 homes, were going to need three times that investment. Its nowhere near enough and my local residents wont be happy with what they have seen in the budget. Isnt there a problem with the stamp duty policy because the obr have said all it does is push up house prices so it is the seller, the person who is on the property ladder who gains by this sth we will take evidence in the select committee from the obr next week and ask them about what exactly what they are saying in their report, but i think the important thing is getting the Housing Market moving and it is about getting young people on the housing ladder and the dream of Home Ownership and i think actually it is an important step to making housing more affordable for those who have got to save for a deposit, about the stamp duty on top. Housing is important for peoples stake in society, but so is renting. Philip hammond said he wanted to look at longer tenancies which is important. Look, we have put more than £10 billion into the nhs already. Today wag building on that. More money that the nhs asked for, but i have firm views about brexit, but at the end of the day, if its going to happen, we have got to make sure we are preparing for it. In one sentence, has Philip Hammond done enough to save his job . Sentence, has Philip Hammond done enough to save hisjob . |j sentence, has Philip Hammond done enough to save his job . I dont think hisjob should have been under threat anyway. Nicky morgan, thank you very much. The headlines will be about housing and of course, about brexit. Thank you very much. The chancellor said that getting on the housing lad are shouldnt be a dream for young people, but should bea dream for young people, but should be a reality. As we been discussing, stamp duty for all First Time Buyers is to be abolished for any property up is to be abolished for any property up to £300,000. By continuing to invest in britains infrastructure, skills and r d, we will ensure the recovery in productivity growth thats the key to delivering our vision of a stronger, fairer, more balanced economy, and the assurance to the next generation of their economic security. But however successful we are in that endeavour, there is one area where young people today will rightly feel concerned about their future prospects and that is in the Housing Market. House prices are increasingly out of reach for many. It takes too long to save for a deposit. And rents absorb too high a portion of monthly income. So the number of 25 to 34 year olds owning their own home has dropped from 59 to just 38 over the last 13 years. Put simply, successive governments over decades have failed to build enough homes to deliver the home owning dream that this country has a lwa ys owning dream that this country has always been proud of, or indeed to meet the needs of those who rent. In manchester a few weeks ago, the Prime Minister made a pledge to britains Younger Generation that she would dedicate her premiership to fixing this problem and today we ta ke to fixing this problem and today we take the next steps to delivering on that pledge. By choosing to build. We send a message to the next generation, that getting on the housing ladder is notjust a dream of your parents past, but a reality for your future. That was a large section of the point where Philip Hammond was talking about housing. We will talk more about that in the next few minutes because i will be talking to the mayor of london. So well discuss that, but more broadly, lets talk about what the budget might mean for different age groups. We thought there was going to bea groups. We thought there was going to be a lot in this about intergenerational inequality. Lets find out whether two people working in those fields feel much has been anonced for them this afternoon. Ann marie lewisjoins me. We will start with housing in the sense that we heard a bit of Philip Hammond talking about the stamp duty help at the bottom end. Is it fair to say that the sort of young people youre particularly helping, i mean, house buying at all, property buying isa pipe house buying at all, property buying is a pipe dream for them . Absolutely. And thats one of the things that we have been really concerned about because whilst thats a Great Initiative with abolishing stamp duty the young people we work with havent got the deposit to begin that process. Most are in hostels. Most are homeless. So, in actualfact are in hostels. Most are homeless. So, in actual fact there is a lot of work that needs to be done before we get to that stage and i havent heard much about that in todays budget. You work around issues of homelessness in particular for example. I think there is a taskforce going to be around that. Did you hear anything that encouraged you in there regard . |j mean encouraged you in there regard . meana encouraged you in there regard . mean a taskforce is great, but how that relates in real terms to our young people is really what im waiting to understand. We have had lots of task forces and audits around homelessness, but there is hundreds of thousands of young people sleeping rough on the streets every single day. And what could the government have done more specifically that might have helped as far as your charity is concerned . Well, i think there has to be wider support around the funding and the resources not only to local authorities, but to the Charity Sector in general and overall to youth services. At the moment we have experienced over £300 million of cuts to youth services. Thats 603 youth centres. There is nearly 4,000 youth workers who assist young people on the streets, young people in different settings and they have lost theirjobs. So, for us, there has to be a reversal of those cuts and there needs to be money put back into the infrastructure so that we can into the infrastructure so that we ca n start into the infrastructure so that we can start to rebuild our centres again and you know, we have got 100,000 young people that have lost youth places as a result of the cuts and its set to get worse. Caroline, i feel as if and its set to get worse. Caroline, ifeel as if we heard very little this lunch time that related to people certainly of retirement age. What did you take from this . think im, maybe i missed it, but i didnt hear the words older people. Ididnt hear didnt hear the words older people. I didnt hear the words pension, i didnt hear the words social care. Thats the thing that worries us the most. Last week the government announced there would be a green paperon announced there would be a green paper on social care, next summer, but we were hoping for some investment in social care. Knowing there is a paper in a years time wont help them. We think it is a missed opportunity and short sighted. Missed opportunity and shortsighted. There was some announcements around social care in march. It is your sense why it wasnt talked about today, the nhs wasnt talked about today, the nhs was talked about, but not social care . The government is making a mistake if it thinks the money it announced was then. The money announced was then. The money announced for the nhs wasnt enough either. A growing older population is growing demand on the nhs. It was good to hear some more money for the nhs today, but all the experts said they needed double the amount that they needed double the amount that the government is bringing forward. Do you, from an age uk prospective feel this increased talk about intergenerational unfairness, is it valid . Do you accept that the chancellor would say he is trying to look at younger people at the moment, that that is where the problem lies. We know plenty of young people are finding it so difficult to get on the housing ladder. Is that a fairness that, is that something he should have done, do you think . I think lots of older people, if they see there is more help for younger people, they will be pleased that their grandsons and granddaughters and the People Living next door will get help. We live in communities and we want everyone to be getting on well. The things that my friend here was talking about in terms of problems with Public Services and charities applyjust as much for young people. Some of that is tied around reduced funding to local authorities . Absolutely, yes. All right. Caroline and ann marie, thank you. Picking up on the key themes that we heard from the chancellor at lunch time. There has been a lot of focus on those announcements around housing. Already people trying to unpickjust what housing. Already people trying to unpick just what that stamp duty move for First Time Buyers unpick just what that stamp duty move forFirst Time Buyers might really mean. We will talk more about Environmental Policies as well because the mayor of london, sadiq khan hasjoined because the mayor of london, sadiq khan has joined me. Because the mayor of london, sadiq khan hasjoined me. We will start with housing because it is so pertinent to london and the south east, isnt it . We know about the difficulties of young people getting on the housing ladder. Do you welcome no stamp duty for a First Time Buyer, anything up to £300,000 a bigger sum in time buyer, anything up to £300,000 a biggersum in london . Time buyer, anything up to £300,000 a bigger sum in london . Well, i welcome any help to reduce the cost of buying a property in london, but the idea that this is enough to fix the idea that this is enough to fix the housing crisis beggars belief. We need to be building far more homes in london, far more genuinely Affordable Homes and also we now know from reading the obr it will lead to prices going up, further up the food chain. What the government should have done today is to give Financial Support to councils and Housing Associations to build more homes in london from now. What they should have announced today was measures, not a review, but measures to make sure that we can deal with a situation where the landowners, developers who have permission and are sitting on that land. We should have had measures to help the londoners who are arenting from private landlords and this demonstrates how out of touch the government is with the needs of londoners. We needed a step change and we got a drop in the ocean. There is to be a review and thats to be led by Oliver Letwin. Philip hammond put a number to be led by Oliver Letwin. Philip hammond puta number on to be led by Oliver Letwin. Philip hammond put a number on the amount of extra houses he wants to build, but the ambition is to do so by the mid 2020s, so it is a few years away. Whats going on there from your prospective . Is it lack of money . Lack of ambition, whats that about . In 20092010, the amount of money the government spend on Affordable Homes was double. A simple thing the chancellor could have done was to go back to 2009 2010 levels. The private sector by themselves will never build the am of homes that we need and so, the chancellor today has confirmed that at his most ambitious by 2025, across the country, we will have 300,000 homes being built. In london alone, experts say we will need 66,000 homes from the from next year. We should have seen bold plans from the chancellor. What we have got is none of that and i really worry about the confidence businesses will have knowing, no good news in relation to infrastructure for london. No good news in relation to the homes for workers who work in london and that lack of confidence at a time of brexit is bad for london. Exactly. Thats interesting. Is the country brexit ready . Is london brexit ready because there was an announcement of asum, because there was an announcement of a sum, almost a cushion, if you like, in the lead up to brexit, to the brexit preparations he said . When i speak to chief executives, investors, businesses, they want to have confidence in our citys ability to meet their ambitions. One of the best ways of giving confidence to businesses is to say you know what, were going to invest in infrastructure. We are going to give the green light to crossrail 2 and invest in river crossings, invest in transport links. None of that today, you as an investor, or businessman or woman are nervous about the future of our city. You wa nt to about the future of our city. You want to know your staff can afford to live in a great city, but when you are told the only help you will get is a contribution towards a first time purchase doesnt go meeting your ambition as a business. You want to make sure that londoners are skilled up to do the jobs of the future. Again, no real announcement there. I worry at a time when there is uncertainty, at a time when we are told by the eu, we are going down the road of an extreme hard brexit because of the response this government, businesses will think, we are far better off going to frankfurt or going to berlin or paris. This is not me talking down london, it is me being frustrated by the budget today. This is the most anti london budget for a generation. Specifically because of brexit . At a time where we have had four terrorist attacks in our city, no announcement of extra funding for the police in london. No new news in relation to building new homes in london. People have problems from dementia to Heart Disease because of the bad quality air, no news relating to fixing the air pollution. No real news in relation to investing in young londoners. This was a chance for the chancellor to have a big, bold budget. He has blown it. Sadiq khan, thank you very much indeed. I would have loved a bit more time, we could have talked about the Environmental Issues as well. Continuing reaction to everything Philip Hammond announced at lunchtime. Much more reaction, for now just back at lunchtime. Much more reaction, for nowjust back to the studio. Much more from westminster to come but for now, back to the studio. Well be back in westminster shortly but first some other news. The former Bosnian Serb Army commander ratko mladic has been found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity during the bosnian war more than 20 years ago. The 74 year old has been sentenced to life in prison by an International Court at the hague after a trial that has lasted six years. The judge said his crimes figured amongst the most heinous type known to humankind. From the hague, Anna Holligan reports. Sit down, please. He was determined to go down fighting. Refusing to listen to the judge. But he is no longer the most powerful man in the room. If you continue like this. After 16 years as a fugitive, ratko mladic couldnt escape this judgment. He was found guilty of ten out of 11 charges. Guilty as a member of various joint criminal enterprises of the following counts. Count two, genocide. Count three, persecution, a crime against humanity. Count four, extermination, a crime against humanity. Outside, survivors travelled from bosnia. This pursuit ofjustice has given them something to live for after their families were destroyed. Ratko mladic personally directed the shelling of the cosmopolitan capital, sarajevo. He was involved in selecting targets and directed his forces away from serb neighbourhoods. The siege lasted more than three years and left more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians and many children, dead. Here, the burly general can be seen reassuring the crowds that they would come to no harm, before the men and boys as young as 12 were taken to the execution sites. No one can be sure exactly how many people died in srebrenica. The mass graves were excavated by serb forces in an effort to hide their crimes. 6,000 of the victims are buried here in the place where they sought protection from the un in what was supposed to be a safe zone. Ratko mladic was the mastermind of all of this. Many of these families who travelled here to the hague are hoping that this life sentence and the way that ratko mladic acted in court will mean he goes down in history as a coward, who in those final moments, couldnt face up to his own crimes. Anna holligan, the hague. In the last hour, zimbabwes former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has arrived back in the country, following Robert Mugabes surprise resignation yesterday. He will be sworn in as zimbabwes new head of state on friday. The bbc understands London Metropolitan police are investigating the Hollywood Star kevin spacey over a second alleged sexual assault. The date of the allegation goes back to 2005, and took place in lambeth, the location of the Old Vic Theatre where kevin spacey was artistic director. The uks information commissioner has expressed huge concerns about the ethics and policies of the mini cab service uber after the company admitted concealing a massive security breach. The breach, which took place in october last year affected 57 million of ubers customers and drivers around the world. Its emerged that uber paid the hackers £75,000 to delete the data which included customers names, email addresses and mobile phone numbers. The american actor and 70s teen idol David Cassidy has died aged 67. He found fame in the sitcom the partridge family, then enjoyed a hugely successful music career, selling more than 30 million records worldwide. He was admitted to hospital in florida last week with multiple organ failure. Lets return to my colleaguejane hill at westminster for some lets return to my colleaguejane hill at westminsterfor some more budget reaction. Welcome back to a blustery westminster, we will talk about what it means the business, small and large, in the next few minutes, but for now lets had backed the jo minutes, but for now lets had backed thejo coburn, my colleague, she has a bit more on personal finances and im sure more besides overin finances and im sure more besides over in peterborough. Thank you. We have been gauging reaction from businesses all over the afternoon and we have been based in one of the leading businesses in the country, a leading businesses in the country, a leading manufacturer, lawrence david. They build and make lorry trailers. And their business here has expanded over the last few yea rs, has expanded over the last few years, but we have been discussing those growth forecasts, which have been downgraded, and how that will affect businesses like lawrence david. There was plenty of other stuff, though, in the budget, affecting peoples personal finances on the one hand and also things that the council has responsibility for. He did talk to us isjohn holderj, the conservative leader of peterborough city council, and we will then also talk about whether peterborough is brexit ready with lesley batchelor, who is the director general of the institute of and International Trade. I cant help but notice, because it is quite a large badge you have, protect our vital services. Did a large badge you have, protect our vitalservices. Did philip a large badge you have, protect our vital services. Did Philip Hammond do that today . Most certainly not. Our budget has been cut by 80 and we have another 35mm go. With the extra pressures , we have another 35mm go. With the extra pressures, it will amount to £200 million to a small Authority Like peterborough. We have been very innovative in finding different ways to raise money and doing things differently but we have come to the end of the road on that. It does mean if we dont get some extra money then it will mean cuts in social care and social services to children, as well. But you are conservative leader of this city council, have you made your feelings known to the chancellor . Absolutely, we have made ourfeelings known. We have the mps on our side to lobby government. So we are making our feelings known. And we have built a case which i think the government will be quite impressed with. I am quite happy to lobby my own government, because i believe we have great ability here in peterborough. We have done it, we havent moaned about doing it, were just saying this is a step too far. The chancellor said he wanted a balanced approach, there are still a deficit clear, this is all his words, and that actually anything he spends the still going to be added to borrowing. Do you accept that when it comes to the issue of paying Public Sector workers . Yes, i do accept that, but sometimes you do have to bend that, and i understand when government make the rules it affects different people in different ways. And i believe because it is fairer funding we are after, it needs to be fairer and you need to look at it not in isolation. Who would talk briefly before the end about universal credit, but perhaps one of the reasons there is not more money being given the Councils Like johns not more money being given the Councils Likejohns is because Philip Hammond has decided to put aside £3 billion in preparations for brexit. Is that going to help peterborough be brexit ready . think it will help the nation be brexit ready. The fact of the matter is we need to spend a lot of money on our controls, we need borders, we need more and more staff to clear goods through customs, we need more efficient software. We need to embrace of the technologies that will help us to do this successfully and efficiently and it will cost money. In terms of exports, how much have businesses here been helped by the depreciation of the pound . M depends which market and sector they are working in. If you are bringing ina lot are working in. If you are bringing in a lot of Raw Materials from across europe or the usa, a lot of the chinese deal in dollars, it will start really impacting on your price that you can charge in this country, and again outside to the external export markets. Are you optimistic about the opportunities that the government talks about, or are you fea rful government talks about, or are you fearful for what it might do the businesses of they dont know the shape of the deal that brexit will bring . There is no point worrying about the shape of the deal because it will be a last minute thing and we have to just accept that. What i am really worrying about is the fact that businesses are not doing more to find out how to do this effectively, how International Trade works with the rest of the world and what they need to understand, is far as compliance and regulatory issues that they will face. The chancellor was very keen to emphasise help he is giving the First Time Buyers with his announcement on stamp duty. He also said he was listening to the concerns on universal credit, he has cut that seven day waiting time, but it is still five weeks. Will that make enough difference for the people you deal with . It wont. The other measures the government has made has put housing homelessness up in peter by about 200 . This will probably suffer going higher. What he ought to have done is made developers develop the land they have permission for. Not have this review. He needs to do it because we have a lot of land in peterborough where we could build houses for Homeless People but we cant get the developers to start work. John and lesley, thank you both forjoining me. But is it, with that it is back to you, jane. Thank you, jo coburn. Lets assess what Philip Hammonds announcements mean the businesses of all sizes. Lets discuss with ruth lea, caroline with me now is carolyn fairbairn, the director general of the cbi, ruth lea, economic adviser at Arbuthnot Banking group, and mike cherry, National Chairman at the federation small business. Mike, lets talk about Small Businesses, what is positive in this for you today . I think it has been really positive to Small Businesses, the chancellor has clearly listen to what we have been lobbying about, firstly the possible reduction in the vat threshold from 85,000 down to 20 6000. Given the current economic environment in which Small Businesses are working, there are big challenges, so do have that threat removed almost is very, very welcome indeed. He just didnt move on that and i could sense the relief in that sense. And i would have been a huge additional Administrative Burden on the many Small Businesses that they dont have the resources to cope with at the moment. Secondly, staircase tax,. You are my first guest to mention that today, i like to have something new rape where businesses may offer may have more than one floor in a Building Service to a communal staircase or lift, there was a taxi didnt even know about. Even more importantly it was retrospective, back to 2015 in england and would you believe back to 2010 in wales. So getting legislation in quickly with hopefully cross carted for cross party with hopefully cross carted for cross Party Support is very welcome indeed. And then bringing that forward to next april, it will save a further 1 earlier than business would have paid. Very welcome. All in all, a good budget for businesses. That is the view from Small Businesses, caroline fairbairn, the cbi, what you take this . Clearly it is a pretty sombre economic backdrop, that came over in spades, which is why was particularly important to see a good budget for the economy, permitting we did. For the short run, Business Rates have been a big challenge for businesses of all sizes. Anybody with buildings frankly and that will be very important. We also welcome the Contingency Planning around brexit. We want to see the government doing it as well so that is very good. But the long term is very important, productivity growth is the most important thing. To see the action on skills we will have a partnership with the tuc and the government on retraining. We have seen some government on retraining. We have seen some real government on retraining. We have seen some real money government on retraining. We have seen some real money behind that. Crucially Infrastructure Spending across the country. A lot of focus on regional. One caveat we have, there was a lot of talk in the budget around commitment to the metro mayors and the spending of infrastructure money for the metro mayors. We must make sure that regions of the country that do not yet have mayors do not get left behind foster that is interesting, the devolution point. Ruth, you nodding through a lot of that, what is your take on this . Picking up on carolines point on positivity, i think the obr was far too pessimistic. Having forecast all these increases on productivity and it has not happened, they have gone in the other direction. And the growth will be incredibly weak. I think once we have got down, and deployment is about 4. 3 , effectively full employment, there will be a slowdown in net immigration. If businesses want to grow they will have to push productivity, raise their game, so i think the obr has got a little bit too pessimistic, and the growth figures look a bit too pessimistic. The second thing is and i was wrote a post about this because i had worked out Philip Hammond as a mother who never does anything that is terribly surprisingly unusual anti surprise me. Is terribly surprisingly unusual antisurprise me. Spreadsheet phil. It has wrecked all of the preconceptions of the man, he has had quite an expansionary budget, and all of the Smoke Signals ahead of this, that it was going to be incredible cautious and careful. Because of his policy changes, the extra public spending, which i understand for political spending reasons, the net tax, more borrowing next year, £9 billion nearly, that is actually a surprise. There is every things you have also that i would love to continue with. I am sorry we are out of time. Much more there, we have other people to talk to, but very good to speak to you. Thank you so much for your perspectives on the budget, a degree of optimism we havent quite heard yet, it is fair to say. We are going to head to manchester, Judith Moritz is therefore some more reaction and in particular a bit more about housing anything. Yes, housing, and how young people in particular have reacted to this budget. We are at the Manchester Christmas markets, there is something here for all ages but i have rounded up some twentysomethings to ask them what they think. In terms of housing, i have katie and luke, both in their 20s. Katie kimura 28, is that right, and luke 21. The idea that abolishing stamp duty for First Time Buyers up the properties up to £300,000, does that affect you . Buyers up the properties up to £300,000, does that affect you7m doesnt make any difference to me because i would have rented, so i would not have been able to save for a mortgage or anything like that. It really makes no difference. The concept of buying a house still fills a long way off you . Yes, ive got a child and rent to pay, so getting a mortgage for me isjust not foreseeable in the next 45 yea rs. Not foreseeable in the next 45 years. Even the thought of stamp judy going away. Makes no difference, because i still have to be of the save and pay for everything else. Luke, for you, in terms of property ladder kimura only 21, is it something that you have in your sights at this point . 21, is it something that you have in your sights at this point . I think it is more of a struggle for young people, especially university students. Especially when they leave university, because there are such a big burden and it is a lot easier to go out of uni and go straight into a house. It is definitely a hard thing for young people. Me and myself and a lot of friends of mine have ended up a lot of friends of mine have ended up being homeless for a short amount of time, because it is definitely a struggle we dont get educated enough about. It is hard. You have touched on lots of therefore stop this government has looked at homelessness. Manchester where we are is one pilot area that will receive money to help with homelessness. Is that something you welcome, having experienced it yourself . I dont know. It is obviously very much a mixed opinion. I dont believe that there is any changes. I have only lived in manchester for two years, and i can just see it progressing worse and worse. But it definitely is rising, the numberof worse. But it definitely is rising, the number of students who come out of university, dropped out of university or finish university and being homeless, for sure. Just because it is such high prices around the city centre. And i dont think we are educated enough onjust how much of a big world it is once you leave. Thank you. We will move over to some of the people here at the market, a fairly pessimistic view from those two twentysomethings. We now have sian and craig. There is lots in this budget that the light apply to you. On the homeless issue, is homelessness, particularly manchester has been chosen as a pilot area to see an improvement, also the question about stamp duty being abolished if youre looking to buy a house, First Time Buyers. Housing and homelessness, what is your feeling . Housing israeli important, i can see it all around the city, is getting worse. The view on Homeless People is that they are scam come you cant help them, but if we put a bit more into helping the homeless, these people would be but have a Better Future for themselves. In terms of abolishing stamp judy for first time up to themselves. In terms of abolishing stampjudy for first time up to 30 up stampjudy for first time up to 30 up to stampjudy for first time up to 30 up to £300,000, stampjudy for first time up to 30 up to £300,000, what is your feeling . I am a homeowner, craig, my partner, is not a homeowner yet. He is self employed, so difficult to get a mortgage anyway. Whether or not by the time we get there it is still in place, we will see. We are out of time but the views of three people who i suppose have looked at the budget, hoping the ricin thing there for them. There are improvements they are saying but they dont necessarily apply to them right now. So for them here in manchester there is not a great deal of optimism about what we are hearing. Lets discuss some of what was announced, in terms of scotland specifically. Ian blackford hasjust joined me, snp leader in the house of commons. Good to see you, thanks for being here. If my eyesight doesnt deceive me, an extra 2 billion to the Scottish Government . That is what has been trumpeted by the chancellor of the exchequer this afternoon. What he didnt say in real terms over the lifetime of the parliament is another cut of 250 million because of the inflationary aspects of the five year period. We have had a cut to a budget of 2. 9 billion over the lifetime of the last parliament, so this in a sense isa last parliament, so this in a sense is a continuation of austerity. What we have argued that austerity must end because were taking money out of the Public Sector workers, so it has been a massive missed opportunity to make sure we are investing to grow the economy, and what we have is in real terms a cut. I was picking up earlier on a lot of positivity around the issue of police, vat funding, and that is something you have wanted. police, vat funding, and that is something you have wanted. I will give credit that at long last the government has removed vat from scottish fire and police, the only two authorities in the whole of the United Kingdom that were paying vat. It was nasty and active gifted, and they had the opportunity to do a previously and vindictive. What i wa nt previously and vindictive. What i want the chancellor now to do is to repay as the sums for the last three yea rs, repay as the sums for the last three years, which hit it within his give to do. It is great we have that money to invest. Lets see if you might respond to your challenge. There is a lot of talk today as you will be aware around the housing issues, very difficult times for young people, people wanting to get on the housing ladder. Well know about the stamp judy on the housing ladder. Well know about the stampjudy move that has been announced today First Time Buyers. That is only fine and wales. How can scotland respond to that . Could you do similarly . We will look at it but for the first time young people will be worse off than their pa rents, people will be worse off than their parents, there is a real crisis for millennials. This budget on that account and also in terms of the general economy has misfired. The office for budget responsibility has cut the forecast for gdp by 2. 7 over the course of the next five yea rs. Over the course of the next five years. When you get beyond the fluff and bluster of the budget, the fiscal stimulus is nothing. We are already losing jobs from the uk. 1000 jobs going in london. We know that a hard brexit will harm our economy. We believe in scotland it could cost us up to 80,000 jobs. Today was an opportunity for the chancellor to show he could invest, a budget for people and prosperity. There was a missed opportunity today. And he very much for being with us. We will talk a bit more in a moment about Public Sector pay, alongside the chancellors budget today lets just hear a little bit about that because a short while ago the chairman of the obr explained these forecasts, and went through how the governments tax and spend policies have affected the economic outlook. There are tax cuts, the largest are stamp judy relief First Time Buyers and inevitably another freeze stamp judy relief First Time Buyers and inevitably anotherfreeze in fugitive. We estimate the stamp duty infuel fugitive. We estimate the stamp duty in fuel duty. The Main Financial gains will be people who own property is already rather than the First Time Buyers themselves. Fifth, there is a much larger number of much smaller tax increases, which include a raft of new anti avoidance and evasion measures focusing on Additional Resources for hmrc, thus Additional Resources for hmrc, thus a freeze on the indexation allowance of Corporation Tax and stop interestingly the only year in which tax increases outweigh tax cuts is in the fiscal target year of 20202021. This is the in the fiscal target year of 2020 2021. This is the result of delaying by a year the introduction of the new Capital Gains tax payment window, which boosts receipts and its first year of operation. When it was announced in autumn statement 2015, it boosted receipts in the event 2015, it boosted receipts in the eve nt target 2015, it boosted receipts in the event target year of 2019 20. Finally, the measures have indirect effects on government borrowing that reduce the deficit somewhat in most yea rs. Reduce the deficit somewhat in most years. Mostly because the increase is in departmental spending, clearly on pay. Robert orchard from the obr. Much more on all of that after 4pm, continuing our reaction from here at westminster. We are going to pause for a cover of mowers, we will catch up for a cover of mowers, we will catch up with the weather frustrates wherever you are in the country. Hello. A mixed bag, some wet and windy weather in the forecast, the heaviest of that rain the north west england, parts of wales southern scotland. Weve got strong winds across england and wales, gusts of up across england and wales, gusts of up to 70 mph on exposed coast. The rain has been very heavy, particularly in the north west. There are some flood warnings in cumbria, this photo sent in earlier by our weather watcher. We are seeing these weather fronts working north and east, the rain today. You can see the isobars fairly tightly packed. The best of the bright, dry weather is certainly the south east. But as we go through rush hour today in particular with heavy rain and strong winds, we can see some difficult driving conditions. Through this evening and overnight, the rain easing for a time in scotla nd the rain easing for a time in scotland before receiving next area of rain pushing in from the south. It will turn to rain some heavy bursts of rain and the odd rumble of thunder as well, temperatures in the south staying in the double figures but a cooler night come in the north, with temperatures close to freezing. Tomorrow morning there will be some snow to low levels. Looking at between two and five centimetres but there will be more snow over higher ground, greater accumulation is when youre out over higher ground. For Northern Ireland and southern scotland, northern england, some showers that could be wintry. As we move through england, wales and further down into the south west 20 brightness around but a cooler start of the day tomorrow. Were just seeing the rain clear the south east thing through the morning. As we move through the day, the snow in the north will turn to rain as it clears its way east for Northern Ireland. Still a scattering of showers, if you showers working in from wales and to the south west, but a lot of dry, bright weather to come and still fairly breezy, although the winds will be slightly later tomorrow. The exception to thatis later tomorrow. The exception to that is the far north, which will be quite windy. Temperatures at a maximum of 14 celsius in the south east. The move into friday, a cold start, touch of frost in the north. A bidder brightness around and the potential of season wintry showers, holding onto some cloud. Some cooler temperatures, backed down on the single figures. A fair amount going on in the weather at the moment. Stay up to date on the forecast application at our website. This is bbc news, im jane hill at westminster where the chancellor has delivered his budget, with money for housing, the nhs and brexit preparations. Mr hammond said hed prepared a balanced budget which was full of change, full of challenges and full of new opportunities. I report today on an economy that continues to grow, continues to create more jobs than ever before and continues to confound those who seek to talk it down. They call this a budget fit for the future. The reality is this is a government no longer fit for office. Growth forecasts for the uk are substantially downgraded with output expected to be lower over the coming years. On housing, stamp duty for all First Time Buyers in england and wales will be scrapped immediately for purchases up to £300,000. The office for budget responsibility says it will push house prices up. Under pressure from labour on universal credit mr hammond delivered a £1. 5 billion package to cut the waiting time for payments. The nhs in england will receive an extra £2. 8 billion by 2020 with £350 million provided immediately to allow trusts to plan for the winter. Critics are saying it is not enough. The chancellor promised £10 billion in 2015 and delivered £4. 5 billion. If you dont minute well wait for the small print on todays announcement. The tax on tobacco continues to rise but theres a freeze on wine, cider and spirits and the fuel duty rise for both petrol and diesel is cancelled. Good afternoon from westminster where the chancellor, Philip Hammond, has delivered a budget which he said would make the uk fit for the future and an outward looking, free trading nation once it leaves the european union. But he had to announce dramatically downgraded growth forecasts for next five years from a previously announced 2 this year, to 1. 5 . He told the commons that an extra £3 billion will be set aside over the next two years to prepare for brexit. The labour leader, jeremy corbyn, said the chancellors statement was a record of failure with a forecast of more to come. Lets take a look at some of the main measures in todays budget. On housing, there was good news for people in england and wales wanting to purchase their first home with news that stamp duty for First Time Buyer purchases up to £300,000 is to be abolished immediately. The office for budget responsibility says the process will put prices up. The chancellor promised at least £44 billion of capital funding, loans and guarantees over five years, to support House Building. He said the government would commit to a long term goal to build 300,000 new homes a year by the mid 20205. The government bowed to pressure over universal credit with a £1. 5 billion package to cut the waiting period for payments and make it easierfor claimants to receive an advance. £2. 8 billion will be provided in extra funding for the nhs in england £350 million immediately to address pressures this winter. Looking at the economy as a whole the chancellor delivered some sobering news. Lets look at the detail on that. He said the independent office for budget responsibility had downgraded its forecast for Economic Growth this year from 2 to 1. 5 . He said that annual borrowing would be £49. 9 billion in 2017 2018, lower than forecast in the spring budget. And according to the obr, Government Debt will peak this year at 86. 5 of gdp, before falling to 86. 4 next year. Thats the picture for the economy as a whole. Much more discussion on that throughout the afternoon here at westminster. Lets also take a look now at some of the measures announced. There was good news for motorists as the chancellor announced that the annual rise in duty on petrol and diesel will be cancelled. Not such good news for smokers as Tobacco Products will continue to rise at inflation plus 2 . For drinkers, duty on beer, wine, spirits and most ciders will be frozen. Our Political Correspondent leila nathoo has this report. Are you boxed in, chancellor . He has been under pressure, but the chancellor this morning was putting on a brave face. Any tricks in your red box . Preparing to set out the journey ahead for the governments tax and spending plans. Brexit looms large. Theres not much cash in the kitty and there have been demands from some of his conservative colleagues for a big and bold budget to lift the partys post election gloom. In the commons, as the chancellor waited to deliver his statement, the Prime Minister insisted her government was putting the country first. Im optimistic about our future. Im optimistic about the success we can make of brexit. Im optimistic about the well paid jobs that will be created. Im optimistic about the homes we will build. Thats conservatives, building a britain fit for the future. I now call the chancellor of the exchequer, Philip Hammond. Then it was Philip Hammonds turn at the dispatch box to set out his strategy. Insisting the government had been listening. We understand the frustration of families where real incomes are under pressure. So at this budget, we choose a balanced approach. Yes, maintaining fiscal responsibility as we at last see our debt peaking. Continuing to invest in the skills and infrastructure that will support the jobs of the future. Building the homes that will make good on our promise to the next generation. But crucially, also, helping families to cope with the cost of living. There was plenty ofjokes. Then a headline on housing in england and wales. For all First Time Buyer purchases up to £300,000 iam time buyer purchases up to £300,000 i am abolishing stamp duty altogether. Philip hammond announced changes to universal credit following intense political pressure, promising additionalfunding to political pressure, promising additional funding to cut waiting times for the payment and to make it quicker to claim advance. There will be an extra £2. 8 billion for the nhs in england. And more cash for schools which boost their numbers of maths students. Plus with plans to be at the fore front of tech, the chancellor wants Driverless Cars on the countrys roads by 2021. But labours attacked the budget calling ita labours attacked the budget calling it a record of failure with a forecast of more to come. People we re forecast of more to come. People were looking for help from this budget and they have been let down. Let down by a government that like the economy they presided over, is weak, and unstible and in need of urgent change. They call this a budget fit for the future. The reality is, this is a government no longerfit for office. This was a measured budget. No fireworks, no slip ups, the chancellor will hope he has done enough to convince the country and his own colleagues that he is the right man to remain in charge of the economy. With me now is the shadow chancellorjohn mcdonnell. There is one for the nhs. There is help for First Time Buyers. There is one for the nhs. There is help forFirst Time Buyers. Nurses are likely to get a pay rise and there is lots to be positive about . The money for the nhs, Simon Stevens the chief executive said he needs £4 million now. So it goes nowhere near whats needed. He said if we dont get the money, there will be five million on waiting listsment it is unacceptable. In terms of education, nothing. 5,000 headteachers wrote to the chancellor and said we need to end the education cuts and it is the first time we have had per capita cuts in education and nothing. For the nurses, all they got lets talk about and come back in the new year. There was no real serious commitments here today. It was like a chancellor or a government thats in office, but not in power. They didnt seem to be capable of doing anything and the bar that was set for the chancellor, was we were told this would be a revolutionary budget or major change, the bar was set where it was dont mess up. Thats all he has done. A nothing budget really. A few minutes ago i was talking to the federation of Small Businesses and the cbi talking to the federation of Small Businesses and the cb and they were both remarkably upbeat. The federation of Small Businesses says there is plenty in here for to us get our teeth into and we are pleased with what he has announced . They are trying to look on the bright side. I can understand that, but take stamp duty, cutting stamp duty, whilst you are not building houses on any scale, means prices will go up. And it looks as though the figures that the government have put in for the stamp duty cut were a small number, a few thousand people at best. On the housing, it looks as if most of it is that reannouncements rather than any rebuilds. There was a commitment to build many more houses by the mid 20205. Build many more houses by the mid2020s. He is aiming for 300,000 by 2025. All of this today was about something projected for the future and remember when we had starter homes announced a few years ago, 200,000, not a single one has been built. So, you will pardon me if im sceptical about the announcements today. There is a housing review and Oliver Letwin will be reviewing that it is alljam tomorrow and i cant see anything realistic coming out of this budget today. That will affect the housing crisis that he have with got. The crisis in education, the crisis in our nhs and do you know one of the things that was missing today was local councils have been saying vulnerable children, they need to £2 billion to protect our children. Not a penny. What would you doing differently . How would you improve things as you would wish them to be improved . Well, we set out in our manifesto at the election and in the grey book that costed our programme. The first thing we would do is stop giving away the tax cuts to the corporations and the rich. Over the next parliament £76 billion is promised to the corporations and to the rich in tax cuts. We would stop that and invest that in the nhs and our Public Services and giving people a proper pay rise. But is that money there . Have you managed to convince the electorate that you can pay for all the ambitious projects . Well, it is interesting im quoting at you government figures. They are the figures that the government has put in giving the money away to the corporations and the rich. I can use those tax cuts to invest in Public Services. Have i convinced people . Increasingly yes. We are ahead in the opinion polls and even on economic. Not on trust . Let me say that, yesterday there was one poll where we are almost neck and neck and thats the first time the history of a party in opposition at this scale, without a Major Economic crisis when the government is in power. Ok, almost neck and neck, but by the same token there will be people watching this saying it is a weak government. This isa saying it is a weak government. This is a government that reduced its majority at a general election it didnt need to call actually, you should be way ahead . No. Oppositions have never been way ahead unless there was a huge economic crash and thats what happened after erm in the 19905 and thats what happened after the banking crash in 2007, 2008. We are steadily surely, but surely, demonstrating an alternative to this government and gaining confidence in the electorate as we showed in the general election when eve ryo ne showed in the general election when everyone said we would be wiped out and now we are ahead in the polls overall and now we are gaining on economic credibility and this budget today will assist us in demonstrating that there is an alternative to a do nothing budget like today. £3 billion set aside for brexit preparations. Is the country brexit ready after todays budget . Well, we wont be brexit ready until we get a negotiated deal. This government seems incapable of achieving that deal and the reason for that is because they are so split within the cabinet and within the tory party. Now what we are saying to them, you need to start negotiating effectively and if you are not willing to do that, we will. What would you be doing right now if you were in number 11. How would you be dealing with the for example the obr growth forecast now . I have interviewed some who said they think the obr is being too pessimistic, but the forecast is what it is and it is sliding down. How would you tackle that . In the past the obr has been pest mystic rather than optimistic. We would ensure we invest in our economy and ensure we have a fair taxation system and pay for our Public Services. If you invest in the economy, you will grow the Public Services. An increase in taxes . No, what we said is end the taxes . No, what we said is end the tax to the rich and the corporation. Yes, an increase in taxes for the top 5 , thats all the richest 5 and then at the same time, we dont borrow for day to day expenditure, but we borrow to invest and that means investing in our infrastructure and the reason we have got a productivity crisis is because for seven years we havent invested in the same way our economic International Competitors have. John mcdonnell, shadow chancellor, thank you very much indeed forjoining us. Thank you very much for your responses. Lets head inside and vicki young is in the lobby. This is where mp5 are digesting what they have heard. You can hear the headlines, and then people want to know and read about the details. Lets discuss this more. Ism joined by Oliver Letwin from the conservative party. Oliver letwin, what is the purpose of this review . It is about trying it get more houses built . It is about trying to find out why there are large numbers of planning permissions given for homes that havent been built yet. Why the developers are sitting there developing only parts of sites which they have got permission and this has been a knotty issue for a long time. Were going to try and find out why it really is happening and if its something we can do something about then the government will take action to do something about it so we get some more homes built rather than having people watching other sites getting planning permission while a big site is sitting there empty. You think that housing is an issue which the government should be more interventionist on . It has to be, cars, you dont hear about affordable hamburgers or affordable ca rs affordable hamburgers or Affordable Cars because supply and demand match. The reason they dont match in the Housing Market is because we have a massive Planning System and we have got to make sure it works and when planning permission is given the houses are built. Caroline lucas, what do you make of the housing announcements . lucas, what do you make of the housing announcements . I am not sure we need a review frankly. There is no great mystery to the fact that we know developers will sit on land while it speculates, thats the trouble with our Property Market so many people are in the for the speculation. What i was hoping to see was a serious investment in Affordable Housing and we also need to underline the word affordable because unfortunately under this government they have redefined affordable to mean 80 of market rent. For my constituents in brighton, 80 of market rate is not affordable. So thats what we needed to see. Jonathan edwards as far as the stamp duty help for First Time Buyers goes, it will apply to wales for a short amount of time . With this announcement, it means six months that this policy will apply and the Welsh Government will be able to introduce their own policies. But the big issue for wales, of course, we saw crossrail 2 mooted, the Milton Keynes development, and nothing specifically for wales. Theyve scrapped electrifying the line to swansea, the tidal lagoon in swansea wasnt mentioned. In the British Government isnt going to invest in wales, why dont they give us the tools to get on with it ourselves . £3 billion so we are ready for brexit . Well, i think this was the whole context for this budget and seeing yet more money having to be set aside for brexit i think is a distraction. We would love to see it being turned into Public Services. Frankly, what i would love to have seen frankly, what i would love to have seen and heard was a policy that would have kept us in the Single Market and the customs union, thats to make sure our economy doesnt ta ke to make sure our economy doesnt take a hit. There is a crisis out there this terms of austerity and this budget did nothing to tackle that. On schools, i have got headteachers who are desperate in brighton because they are having to make teachers redundant and teaching assista nts make teachers redundant and teaching assistants redundant and cutting Mental Health support to students. Why are we not able to fund our schools properly . Thats a real indictment on the government has your government given up on balancing the books . He is spending money on the nhs which needed it and thats a good thing. But if you look at the independent obr forecast what you see is that this budget sets us ona you see is that this budget sets us on a track to reduce the deficit to 1 of gdp by the time we get to the end of the parliament and thats a balanced budget and it needs to be because we dont know what shocks will arrive in the world after 2020. We must leave it there, but a lot to discuss with Philip Hammond, speaking for more than an hour, but i think, you speaking for more than an hour, but ithink, you know, housing mrb the headlines of the day will be the headlines of the day will be the headlines of the day will be the headlines of the day for the government. Lets talk about the nhs. The chancellor announced day,al funding for the Health Service in england. Lets hear a little bit of what he said about that. First, we will deliver an additional £10 billion package of Capital Investment in Front Line Services over the course of this parliament. To support the sustainability and transformation plans which will make our nhs more resilient. Investing a, if . £5. 5st a. A teammate fa} m f 7 teammate fat 7 77 7 right teammate 137. 71 . 77 777 7 right now. Teammate 137. 71 . 77 777 77 right now. I am therefore pressure right now. I am therefore exceptionally and outside the Spending Review process making an additional commitment of resource funding of £2. 8 billion to the nhs in england. £350 million immediately to allow trusts to plan for this winter. £1. 6 billion in 2018 2019 with the balance in 1920, taking the extra resource into the nhs next year to £3. 75 billion in total. Meaning mr deputy speaker, meaning that our nhs will receive a £7. 5 billion increase to its resource budget over this year and next. So those are the figures that were announced. Lets find out what the director of policy at nhs providers makes of them. Simon stevens, the head of the nhs in england wanted the figure of £4 billion. What do you make of what was announced there . I think what we have seen todayis there . I think what we have seen today is an announcement which is less tha n today is an announcement which is less than we think the nhs needs, but its more than we expected given all the chatter around the budget over the last week or so. I think what we have got to remember here is that the nhs as a whole is under huge pressure. So this isntjust about hospitals and waiting times, its about Mental Health services, its about Mental Health services, its about Mental Health services, its about community services, its about ambulance services, so, its about ambulance services, so, its about the whole package and how we support them and what we do know is that with the level of additional funding available, i think, what we will see is the nhs struggling to maintain and improve the quality of the service it provides. The bottom line is the figure from Simon Stevens, he says given the demand and our expectation, all of us play and our expectation, all of us play a part in this, thats the figure thats needed . There are many different opinions on the figures that are needed and think tanks have come out with a figure he signed up, but it is really important to remember that we do need a substantial investment in the nhs. Its not just about substantial investment in the nhs. Its notjust about revenue investment, ie the day to day running costs, but its about Capital Investment as well. There was some announcement around that. I think we need to pick underneath the detail of that to see what that really means. I think it was £10 billion on capital, for Capital Spending . This is about what we spending . This is about what we spend on the bricks and mortar, and things like it. What we are seeing is, i think, things like it. What we are seeing is, ithink, £3 things like it. What we are seeing is, i think, £3 billion of additional investment over five yea rs, additional investment over five years, but also, money from land sales over time as well. So its not all new money. It will come from land sales which is already in property thats already in the nhs. Its really, really important that we have that as well because all while the estate of the nhs deteriorates then obviously that impacts on the quality of service that we can provide. Its a whole package of measures there that we need to see investment in. There is some movement on pay specifically for nurses. We dont have all the detail on that, but your thoughts on what we know so far . So what we know so far the chancellor has said that the lifting of the pay cap for nurses and other whats called agenda for change staff, other Health Care Professionals will be funded by the government. This is very welcome. We were, we funded by the government. This is very welcome. We were, we were worried that what might happen is that that came out of existing budgets for the nhs. The government has said that they will give new money for that subject to what the pay review body which is an independent body which listens to evidence says about what the level of pay should be for nurses and other health care staff, but yes thatis other health care staff, but yes that is a very welcome announcement and we need it for recruitment and retention of nurses and other staff. It is vital. Thank you very much indeed. Dou btless thank you very much indeed. Doubtless more analysis of what it means for the nhs over the course of the day. Lets talk about housing as well. The chancellor said that getting on to the housing ladder shouldnt just be getting on to the housing ladder shouldntjust be a dream for young people, but should be a reality for their future. People, but should be a reality for theirfuture. He people, but should be a reality for their future. He announce that had stamp duty for all First Time Buyers is being abolished for any property worth up to £300,000. By worth up to £300,000. By continuing to invest in britains infrastructure, skills, and r d, we will ensure the recovery and productivity growth that is the key to delivering our vision of a stronger, fairer, more balanced economy and the assurance to the next generation of their economic security. But however successful we are in that endeavour, there is one area where young people today will rightly feel concerned about their future prospects and that is in the Housing Market. House prices are increasingly out of reach for many. It takes too long to save for a deposit and rents absorb too high a portion of monthly income. So the number of 25 to 34 year olds owning their own home has dropped from 59 to just 38 over the last 13 years. Put simply, successive governments over decades have failed to build enough homes to deliver the home owning dream that this country has a lwa ys owning dream that this country has always been proud of or indeed, to meet the needs of those who rent. In manchester a few weeks ago, the Prime Minister made a pledge to britains Younger Generation that she would dedicate her premiership to fixing this problem and today we ta ke to fixing this problem and today we take the next steps to delivering on that pledge. By choosing to build. We send a message to the next generation that getting on the housing ladder is notjust a dream of your parents past, but a reality for your future. So again, a little of the part of the announcement about housing. Lets discuss that. Joanne fry has joined me. The ceo of pocket living hasjoined me. A warm welcome joined me. The ceo of pocket living has joined me. A warm welcome to all of you tonight. Thank you very much. Mark, halfs positive. What do you ta ke mark, halfs positive. What do you take away from the budget thats positive for you . Two things. For the First Time Buyer the stamp duty decision really does make a difference. If youre buying a home at £300,000 or less, with help to buy, you would have had to pay £15,000 deposit. So if you are not having to pay stamp duty, you are sa iflg having to pay stamp duty, you are saiflg £5,000. Thats a meaningful difference. Homes england will make a big difference. It is the first time we have seen government trying to integrate the complexity of public land of planning and of delivery and thats a good sign. On the First Time Buyer point, we are hearing the forecast that actually after the initial flurry, hearing the forecast that actually after the initialflurry, it benefits someone who is already a homeowner because it becomes inflationary over the longer term . Yes, i think thats right. It is a real risk that actually the change this stamp duty will simply result in higher prices and there is evidence of that in the past. What i would say about the budget is that it isa would say about the budget is that it is a move in the right direction on some key issues. The question is, are the measures adequate to the challenge that we face in this country . I think thats a question that where the jury is still out. Because the target for House Building, even trying to get to the point that most charities and authorities on this say is needed, somewhere between 250,000 and 300,000, that green party is not until the mid 20205. 300,000, that green party is not untilthe mid2020s. Well, it isnt, we are talking about 250 until the end of this parliament. It is not £44 billion of new money, quite a lot of that is already in the programme. So there is some new money, some new guarantees, but i think the area thats most lacking is the commitment to new social housing and in particular, the role of local authorities and indeed, Housing Associations like peabody where we think we can do more than were doing at the moment. You could do more if you had the funding . You if the funding and the land and land isa if the funding and the land and land is a crucial factor here. We need land to build on and we need to unlock sites across the country to build the housing thats needed. The key point is even if we build more houses for sale, we will still see prices high. So, we have to build affordable, social housing at the same time. The government have recognised that. I dont think they have gone far enough yet. Joanne, youre nodding. I agree. This announcement about building the 300,000 more homes that we need each year, but where the homes going to be . Are they going to be in the areas of most need . Are they going to be affordable . How are we going to be affordable . How are we going to ensure that . And without lifting the cap on council borrowing, how are councils going to fit into this picture and provide as you say more social housing . Yes, have any of you perhaps, but is there any more clarity around the role that Housing Associations and councils can play here . This has been a growing problem. We have been talking about this for many years now and there doesnt seem to be any movement on that. There is a recognition that there is a role for Housing Associations and local authorities. So, the government do say we need more housing of affordable type. But i think, they really could have got this going with rocket boosters had they given local authorities the powers to borrow. In the end they have given them £1 billion to bid for. Welcome because its a step in the right direction, but question mark, not really enough. For example the government took the Housing Association borrow ago you have the budget sheet so that doesnt appear as Public Sector debt. Yes. If they had done the same thing for councils then we would have more freedom and we would be able to contribute a lot more to this. The slight problem with all this, you are always looking for government to come up with a mixed balance diet of initiatives to help lots of people in society engage with housing and one of the problems that we have in the Housing Market in the uk it is a po parised debate between social housing and open market housing and one of the things the government is trying to say and i think theyre right to do so, there is a large middle market of people who are squeezed out and they also need some priority. So we shouldntjust fall also need some priority. So we shouldnt just fall back upon the old debate of social versus private housing. They are squeezed out because property is unaffordable. The private rented sector has doubled in the last decade. The government have moved to a more balanced approach. Thats welcome. The question is have they recognised how much more Housing Associations and local authorities can contribute to their number, 250 to 300,000 and i think thats where there is more to do. I agreen paper. There is more to do. I agreen paper. There is more to do. I agreen paper. There is more to do in terms of housing need. We havent seen how to ease pressures and for people who are living in the private rented sector. Im sorry begun to wonder because there were so much more to discuss. Thank you so much for being with us here this evening. A number of times this evening throughout his speech the chancellor referred to his vision of the future, he said he wa nted vision of the future, he said he wanted young people growing up today to have a sense of boundless opportunity. We are listening, and we are understand the frustration of families were real incomes are under pressure. At this budget we choose a balanced approach. Yes, maintaining fiscal responsibility as we last see our debt peking. Laughter continuing building the homes that will make good on our promise to the next generation but crucially also helping families to cope with the cost of living. As we invest in our countrys future, i have a clear vision of what that Global Britain looks like. A prosperous and inclusive economy. Where everybody has the opportunity to shine. Where everin has the opportunity to shine. Where ever in these islands they live and whatever their background. Where talent and hard work are rewarded, where the dream of Home Ownership is a reality for all generations. A hub of enterprise and innovation, a beacon of creativity, a civilised and tolerant place that cares for the vulnerable and nurtures the talented. An outward looking free trading nation, a force for good in the world. That is now talk to jasmine bertelsen has justjoined that is now talk to jasmine bertelsen hasjustjoined me, very busy afternoon out here on college green. Thank you for squeezing your way in, personal finance expert, jasmine. In terms of people managing your finance, your area of jasmine. In terms of people managing yourfinance, your area of expertise for what has to thou fear from the chancellor had to say . Anything positive . It is a good point because actually i think very little came out, in terms of peoples personal finance, day to day, if you are earning, there is a slight increase in the Tax Threshold. The amount you can then going up very slightly from april next yearfor stop can then going up very slightly from april next year for stop from 11,500 to 11,850, so an extra little bit we can have under higher rate Tax Threshold going up a little bit more by one and a bit thousand pounds. A tiny bit. In a way what was sort of most notable is what wasnt done. There was nothing much said about pensions and that was a worry, a lot of people were worried, people who are putting money into their pensions, they were worried that the tax free level would be brought back. So that is not there. There is a little bit of help certainly the people who are on benefits, the universal credit changes, i think that was positive. But again it is not huge, not a huge difference. Generally speaking, there was not very much at all about wages. Nothing very much about changing the price of things. On the whole business as usual. And a freeze on fuel duty, something before the february much. For businesses. Apart from white cider, nothing on the booze and fags, that is the bit we tend to have a look at, is there going to be a move there . They havent really been any moves for the last few years on those. And petrol. Generally speaking apart from those big lumps, the whole thing about housing the George Hewett such the country. These big moves. In terms of day to day personal finance, very little in terms of a change i think. As you suggest, so much focus on housing today and it is striking how quickly the debate has shifted because there is that initial positivity about First Time Buyers. We talk about it a lot. You wont have to pay stanciu ton any a lot. You wont have to pay stanciu t on any property up to 300,000, and more in some parts of the country. Already people starting to crunch the numbers and saying that over time that is actually inflationary. Those fast time buyers, it sounds positive at the beginning but it might benefit the person selling the house. I have already heard millennials a big dealfor that house. I have already heard millennials a big deal for that very reason. It is one of those things meant well. You can see the politics behind this. A huge number of the lonely all is so it is a big deal for the tory party. They need to bring them back and frankly i dont think this will. That is not enough. At least at the moment may be of the raft of changes he has mentioned in terms of housing, freeing up land, making sure empty properties get filled and increasing the number of houses built, maybe in time that will make the young people happier. But as you say, with the stamp duty, it could actually make the prices go up. So they are really not going to be pleased with that, even if they do get their cut place railcard again. And it doesnt have you find the deposit in the first place. Too little too late is what a lot of them will be saying. Thank you very much. You can find out much more about how the budget affects you whatever your position. And send in your questions. You can text us your questions. There will be a special session at 8 30pm. Whatever the issue that concerns you is, sent through your questions. More from westminster in the next little while, right now back to ritual in the studio. Well be back in westminster shortly but first some other news. The former Bosnian Serb Army commander ratko mladic has been found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity during the bosnian war more than 20 years ago. The 74 year old has been sentenced to life in prison by an International Court at the hague after a trial that has lasted six years. The judge said his crimes figured amongst the most heinous type known to humankind. From the hague, Anna Holligan reports. In the last hour, zimbabwes former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has arrived back in the country, following Robert Mugabes surprise resignation yesterday. He will be sworn in as zimbabwes new head of state on friday. Mr mnangagwa who was sacked by mugabe just a fortnight ago which triggered the president s demise will be sworn in as zimbabwes new head of state on friday. Mr mugabes resignation yesterday sparked wild celebrations across the country late into the night. Two weeks ago he was that power struggle with grace mugabe and he said feared for his life. He thought he would be eliminated effectively by the mugabes. That is why he ran and cross the border to mozambique, today he has come back. Nicknamed the crocodile. They are saying that the crocodile. They are saying that the crocodile. They are saying that the crocodile is back. He has arrived back at a military airbase, he will be sworn in on friday as the new president of zimbabwe, only its second leader in 30 years. After the news that Robert Mugabe was resigning we had all of the euphoria, and we have seen that starting to fade and people asking questions about mr mnangagwa. He is accused of human rights abuses, critics say he has rigged elections, he has been systematically corrupt. Other people say when it comes to the economy here is a reformer. So dont quite what to expect, he is we think in the next few minutes going to be addressing supporters at the ruling party thank you very much for now. The bbc understands that the London Metropolitan police are investigating the Hollywood Star kevin spacey over a second alleged sexual assault. The date of the allegation, believed to be back in 2005, took place in lambeth, the location of the Old Vic Theatre where spacey was artistic director. The uks information commissioner has expressed huge concerns about the ethics and policies of the mini cab service uber after the company admitted concealing a massive security breach. The breach, which took place in october last year affected 57 million of ubers customers and drivers around the world. Its emerged that uber paid the hackers £75,000 to delete the data which included customers names, email addresses and mobile phone numbers. The american actor and 705 teen idol David Cassidy has died aged 67. He found fame in the sitcom the partridge family, then enjoyed a hugely successful music career, selling more than 30 million records worldwide. He was admitted to hospital in florida last week with multiple organ failure. Lets return to the budget. Some of the key Economic Data unveiled by the key Economic Data unveiled by the chancellor. That is joint ritual horn to get more on what all this means. Balance the books, that was the chancellors aim, so did he deliver . Lets start with the deficit. That is the difference between the amount of money that government brings in through taxes and the amount it spends running the country. Back in march, the obr, the official government watchdog, predicted this is how the deficit would pan out. With a government borrowing up to £58 billion this year and that figure falling as the years go on down to almost £17 billion in 2022. The latest update from the obr gives some good news for 2017 with borrowing actually coming in more than £8 billion less than expected, and continuing to fall. But look at this, it is not falling by as much as was predicted back in march. One easy way for any chancellor to bring down the deficit is through a robust and growing economy. In march, the obr predicted the uk would grow by 2 in 2017. But today that figure has been revised down to 1. 5 . Falling to 1. 3 by 2019 before inching up to1. 6 falling to 1. 3 by 2019 before inching up to 1. 6 in 2022. Is that robust enough . Lets asked the city. It isnt, it actually moves the uk from being a leader amongst the g 7 at the back end of 2016 to now being lifeguard. The important backdrop to this is the fact that the rest of the gdp growth is accelerating over the gdp growth is accelerating over the period. This growth accelerates in the eurozone, the us. In the uk it is going in the opposite direction, so we expect sterling to be under pressure as people look at that difference and trajectory and concludes the uk is not the place where they want to hold assets. So what is the problem . Part of it is productivity, the measure of how much stuff we can make. The more people produce, the more their employers compare them, the more taxes the government can collect and the more disposable income we have to spend, but the uk has a serious productivity problem. The predicted. 9 of this year rising to 1. 2 the predicted. 9 of this year rising to1. 2 in the predicted. 9 of this year rising to 1. 2 in 2022. This is something that was looking well over june. The obr have been stubbornly expecting productivity to pick back up expecting productivity to pick back up to where we were pre financial crisis. That is just clearly not happening. At least these figures have a bit more semblance of reality about them. It is still a conundrum and a problem for the bank of england and for the economy as a whole that productivity is so low. That is just a reflection of the type of jobs that is just a reflection of the type ofjobs that have been created in the economy. So productivity and gdp growth both downgraded, the chancellor is still cutting the deficit but six months on from the last obr report he has a lot less wiggle room. Rachel. Thanks through much indeed. Lets return to my colleague jane hill at westminster to get more budget reaction. We heard the chancellor announced 3 billion for brexit preparations. Lets discussed that and more with jill rutter from the institute for government. Jill, good evening, in practical terms, do we know what that money is for . What is that about . We know the sort of thing that will go on, the chancellor has announced he has already made available quite a big slug of money but he will add to that over the next two years with his 3 billion. He will run something that looks a bit like a he will run something that looks a bit likea mini he will run something that looks a bit like a mini spending round in january to decide who gets what. The sort of things that will go on, some of the preparation that needs to be made at the border, so we know we had the head of revenue and customs, hmrc, only a couple of days ago at the public accounts committee, saying he really needed to start spending money now to make sure the systems were ready for when we had to charge customers potentially on trade with the european community. Who will have to start equipping our regulators to deal with some of the fallout from not being part of the regulatory agencies, people that we re regulatory agencies, people that were moving on monday back into europe as we leave those. Home office, the amber rudd has only told the Home Affairs Select committee she needs to start recruiting staff to start processing eu nationals who need to be registered. That is all those sorts of practical preparations, as well as the pressure on departments. We have seen a pressure on departments. We have seen a real change in the profile of departments, Civil Service numbers we re departments, Civil Service numbers were on a pretty consistent downward trend until the referendum. The other has been quite a marked tick up other has been quite a marked tick up in departments having to add staff just to cope up in departments having to add staffjust to cope with the pressures of brexit. You and i have spoken many times about the sheer scale of this investigation, the number of extra staff needed. You have outlined some of it there. Do we have any sense as to whether this figure is sufficient . Does the government now . It seems to be almost an endless creation ofjobs inevitably. We obviously dont know whether we will get a transition or not, the government is clear it wa nts a not, the government is clear it wants a transition from other that is not yet agreed. It affects the timing of the spending. We also dont know what our future relationship with the eu will be, it is something we hope to move on to start discussing in september if we get that famous verdict of sufficient progress. The chancellor will allocate the first 1. 5 billion to 2019, which texas nearly up to the point we go, march 2019th of the point we go, march 2019th of the last quarter of 2018 19. The second 1. 5 billion he is allocating is basically going to make decisions during next year when the nature of that relationship becomes a bit clearer. So he is holding that back for now. Not tripling it out quite with it he has been doing at this year but he will only give them one yea rs year but he will only give them one years spending and then make some decisions much later on next year if he can about what he needs to do the following year. Of course what is quite interesting when you look at the governments figures in the redbook is it goes 1. 5, 1. 5, nothing. So we actually have no provision in their spending numbers for the sort of continuing costs of managing brexit. So that will have to come in Spending Reviews for the future. Right, more to discuss next time round in that case. Thank you very much, jill rutter. You can see much more reaction, plenty of analysis on the bbc website of course. Abc. Co. Uk news, whatever the topic you are interested in. Whatever you are not sure about. Bbc bbc. Co. Uk. For now, back to rachel. We will stay in westminster but take you to the warm indoors, we can talk to vicki young, who has the central heating and the central lobby. Thats right, we know the chancellor Philip Hammond was under pressure from some in his own party to act on several fronts, one of those of course being universal credit. He has acted today, you will set aside £1. 5 billion over the next few years in order to write some of the things that his opponents but also those on his own side think were problems. I am joined by his own side think were problems. I amjoined by iain his own side think were problems. I am joined by iain duncan smith. You we re am joined by iain duncan smith. You were one of those who was concerned about this, he has made some changes, which do you think are the most significant . Two major changes he has made which i and others were after because it was George Osborne who i am afraid imposed waiting days and took some money out of universal credit, so we have been campaigning to get it back to where we designed it. As it rolls outcome you want people to wait for a limited amount of time, and availability to have advances if they are in difficulty. He has agreed advances can go to 100 if someone has difficulty. The other big issue he has agreed to is getting rid of the extra waiting days brought in by George Osborne, and that will help to speed up the process enormously. The one bit which probably will not have been noticed is the has allowed there is a two week continuation of housing benefit when someone on housing benefit when someone on housing benefit moves over on the universal credit. The reason for that we argued was that it just gives a credit. The reason for that we argued was that itjust gives a bit more time for those on universal credit for those running it to be abducted wrap whether these people actually in debt already, whether they have a problem, which case they need to get to them and get them sorted out because universal credit does that. That two weeks will allow them to steady their incomes immediately and sort out their problems. There are in mind one big thing, it is not universal credit creating the debts, 60 of the old and rfid system have debt and arrears. This will help get them sorted as quickly as possible. You would have liked to have seen him go further, to make work pay even more. Yes, the original plan was doubled a bit more money in you see, it was taken bit more money in you see, it was ta ken out by bit more money in you see, it was taken out by George Osborne, he resigned over some of those things. But the point is last time he put some of the paperback down, it is really important, it helps people earn more, and he has dealt with issues around the roll out, such as getting money to people quicker and making sure people are assessed properly so they dont in any way fall into debt while they are on universal credit. Those measures should help that enormously. It is an incredibly important programme. We have to get it absolutely rolled out. It is rolling out carefully and steadily. More broadly with the budget, are you concerned that your party, your government has given up on balancing the books . Philip hammond seems to be turning the taps on the spending cap. Not really, he made it very clear, it shows that debt will fall to its lowest level now for some considerable time, and set to fall. The deficit is set to fall set to fall. The deficit is set to fa ll over set to fall. The deficit is set to fall over the next three to four years, again the very low levels, eventually falling out altogether. That is still a long way off, still the middle of the next decade . But the middle of the next decade . But the plan is to get that done. What he has done today is that the actual three key issues. Housing is the big issue for us, decades of government whether labour or conservative have simply not manage to get enough homes built. So we have to get more homes built. So we have to get more homes built, private and Public Sector housing. His plan today with the extra money should help with that. The second thing it will help is First Time Buyers will have literally their immediate entry level tax essentially no longer paid. So they will have a zero rate as they arrive on their property, which makes buying a home for them much cheaper and much quicker. Demand is not the problem, we know that people want to buy these houses, it is that there are not enough being built. Exactly right. Today you saw a commendation of two things, helping young people get on the property level hash orton ladder. Zero centring their tax level as they enter in and then the issue about building more. Also getting one of our colleagues Oliver Letwin to look at the problem with the Planning System and with those who have land already with planning approval, and many of those are Housing Associations, getting them to build copy would immediately put hundreds of thousands of more homes back into use and that is the really important thing, get more houses built. Thank you very much indeed. Mps here will be digestive and what has gone on in the budget at least for the next few days. Away from the main Political Action and geta away from the main Political Action and get a sense of how it is going down elsewhere. Judith moritz has been gauging reaction to the chancellors reaction in manchesters christmas market. Amongst the mulled wine and the sa nta amongst the mulled wine and the santa display, plenty of under 30 year olds have been listing to what the budget has to offer them. I have four of them with me. Lee, the measure to abolish damp chewed the First Time Buyers up to 300,000, is that going to help you at all, in terms of buying a house . Not at all. Stamp duty. It is looking like we will never get a house really as it stands. The stamp duty is not the issue, what are the problems for you . Just the price of housing, it is ridiculous, especially compared to the wage. It still feels a long way off, what about some of the other measures . Lets say you are not quite 30, are you, the railcard will be extended, the young person railca rd. Will be extended, the young person railcard. Is that a good thing . It wont affect me much, but i can see it will be good for other people. get the train a lot to see my family. It will be good that it is going up. Come over here and talk to tom and karen. You were telling me that this stamp duty move for you has comejust a that this stamp duty move for you has come just a little too late. Yes, we recently just has come just a little too late. Yes, we recentlyjust bought a house injuly. Wejust yes, we recentlyjust bought a house in july. We just missed yes, we recentlyjust bought a house injuly. Wejust missed on the cattle. I think our stamp duty was roughly £4000, if we could save that. We would be £4000 saved otherwise. What do you think of it as an idea, will it encourage people to get onto the first rung of the ladder, yourfriends, the people that you know . How many of them have been persuaded to buy houses, how many are able . I think most people wa nt to many are able . I think most people want to get their own independent and buy a house and move on their own. So any sort of say from anything, stamp duty is quite high so anything, stamp duty is quite high so it will be quite good. Carol, what about you, in terms of the housing ladderfor the what about you, in terms of the housing ladder for the under 305 what about you, in terms of the housing ladderfor the under 305 or for First Time Buyers at least, housing ladderfor the under 305 or forFirst Time Buyers at least, what do you think . We always have to dream to be homeowners, most of my colleagues want to buy a house. It could stimulate the economy really because it is lower. It will help people move to fulfil their dreams i think there will be a good thing. Thank you all very we are out of time. A mixture of views, i have spoken to a number of people owned the age of 30. Under the age of 30. So many confiscated factors that prevent people from taking that sleep into owning their own home. There has also been a lot of positivity in measures on a budget which i think will make a difference here. Coming up at five oclock, we will be taking an in depth look at the budget with huw edwards, but now lets get a look at the weather. Somewhat windy weather today, as that wet and windy weather starts to politically north east we will dragons and cold airfrom politically north east we will dragons and cold air from the politically north east we will dragons and cold airfrom the north, colder conditions and even some snow tomorrow. There have been some localised flooding for part of cumbria, these photos shown by our weather watchers. As we move through rush hour, there could be some tricky driving conditions. You can see the isobars look tightly packed across england and wales. Windy conditions, gusts of up to 70 mph on exposed coasts. The potential to see some tricky driving conditions with some tricky driving conditions with some heavy rain and strong winds. As we move through this evening and overnight, the rain will push its way eastwards, fairly showery but quite heavy for much of england and wales, the odd rumble of thunder not out of the question. Temperatures in the south east ten to 11 celsius, close to freezing in the north. Tomorrow morning, some snow the parts of north and central scotland. A cold start. A cooler start for much of central and southern england, just a little bit of cloud and the rain overnight, still fairly breezy across england and wales. As we move through the day tomorrow, it will turn to rain, the seven north. Scattered showers, feeding into wales. They could be wintry in nature. The best of the brightness for the south and east, temperatures tomorrow in the south east reaching a maximum of 14, perhaps 15 celsius, a bit colder in the northstowe. As we move into friday, we are firmly in the colder air mass. A cold start to the day in the north, a touch of frost to start, some scattered showers which will be quite wintry moving into the northwest. Starting to see a bit more in the way of cloud creeping in later. As we move in to the next few days, some fairly changeable weather. Today at 5. 00, were at westminster, where the budget includes lower prospects for Economic Growth, but a boost for first time house buyers. Philip hammond said it was a budget to put the uk on solid foundations for the challenges ahead, but theres a sharp fall in the forecast for Economic Growth for the years ahead. Stamp duty for all First Time Buyers will be abolished for purchases of up to £300,000, but this is expected to push up property prices. He promised 300,000 new homes to be built annually, and said the government was planning for every possible outcome from the brexit process. We are at a turning point in our countrys history, and we resolve to look forwards not backwards, to build on the strengths of the british economy, to embrace change, not hide from it, to seize the opportunities ahead of us, and together to build a britain fit for the future