Großbritannien

[Rob]

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At-a-glance: The Budget
Key points from Gordon Brown's eighth Budget, which was delivered in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Economic outlook

* The chancellor opened his speech saying: "The purpose of this Budget is to lock in for Great Britain the economic stability that can and will endure."

* The British economy grew by 2.3% in 2003, meeting Treasury forecasts.

* The growth forecast remains at 3-3.5% for 2004 and 2005 and at 2.5-3% for 2006.

* Claimant count unemployment was now at 2.9% on Wednesday's new figures - the lowest since 1993.

* Manufacturing output is expected to grow by just under 2% this year and over 2% next year.

Euro

* The Treasury will review progress on joining the euro in the next Budget, but not now.

Public spending

* In 2006-07 and 2007-08, current spending will rise by 2.5%, with the money allocated in this summer's spending review.

* Mr Brown said he had already rejected calls to freeze the defence, Home Office and transport budgets. Both defence and transport would get real terms increases, he said.

* Education budget to rise to £8.1bn by 2008, with spending on early years teaching to rise to £669m.

Das scheint mal sehr gut zu sein, die Highlights sind, dass Verteidigung eine Erhöhung in "real terms" erhalten wird, das bedeutet über der Inflation gelegen.
Auch die Erhöhung im Bildungsbudget ist aus meiner Sicht zu befürworten, außerdem wenn der "Economic Outlook" stimmt ist das eine sehr gute Aussicht für Großbritannien, des weiteren ist es schön zu hören das auch Investitionsstarke Felder wie "transport" eine Erhöhung kriegen.