BUDGET BRIEFS

CHARITIES reacted angrily to the lack of cash for the struggling social care system.

The Chancellor offered no new money and merely a promise of action in “the next few months” to ease the crisis in the care of older and vulnerable people.

Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said: “Today’s Budget did nothing to alleviate our anxiety.”

Sally Copley, of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “The fact that the Chancellor appears to have completely ignored social care is astonishing.”

Even former health secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeted: “Glaring omission was no extra ££ for social care.”

THE abolition of the so- called “reading tax” was hailed by the Children’s Laureate.

Author Cressida Cowell, famous for her How To Train Your Dragon books, welcomed news that VAT on digital publications, including books, newspapers, magazines and academic journals, will end on December 1.

Ms Cowell said: “This is a celebratory moment, particularly for those with disabilities and children just discovering the joy of reading.”

Publishers Association chief executive, Stephen Lotinga, said: “We’re absolutely delighted.”

CHANCELLOR Rishi Sunak unveiled plans to boost greener transport and the environment – but still came under fire.

He introduced a £ 200- a- ton tax on plastic packaging that lacks at least 30 per cent recycled content.

And he promised £ 800million to help industry and the power sector capture and store their emissions.

The Chancellor also announced £ 640million to plant 75,000 acres of trees and restore 90,000 acres of peatland, both of which are vital for wildlife and help fight climate change by storing carbon.

But he also pledged £ 27billion for new roads.

Mike Childs, of Friends of the Earth, said: “By freezing fuel duty yet again, and promising 4,000 miles of new roads, the Chancellor has shown his priorities are not the environment.”