Chancellor Alistair Darling has delivered the Pre-Budget Report 2009.

Announcements include:

• An increase in child benefit and disability elements of Child Tax Credit by 1.5 per cent in April 2010;
• A guaranteed offer of a job, training or a work placement to all young people aged 18 to 24 who have been on Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) for six months;
• Parents will be allowed to divide a period of paid leave between them in the second six months of their child’s life;
• A 1 per cent cap on public sector pay in 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Further information is available on the Directgov website.