Help for small firms

George Osborne announced a series of measures to support small enterprise.

Some, such as changes to business rates and stamp duty, will only apply to companies south of the border.

But another new policy will see debt interest payments used by larger firms to cut their corporation tax bills capped at 30 per cent of earnings.

Previous losses also carried over to offset corporation tax will be capped at 50 per cent of current profits for businesses with an annual turnover of more than £5 million.