Budget highlights

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended to September 30. Employees will continue to receive 80 per cent of their current salary for hours not worked.

Working parents can be furloughed if they need to look after children and can ask their employer for this.

Women will not lose Statutory Maternity Pay if their roles have been furloughed.

The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) has been extended until September 30 with a fourth and fifth grant. More than 600,000 people, many of whom became selfemployed in 2019-20, can claim direct cash grants under SEISS.

Eligible businesses in the hospitality, retail and leisure sectors in England will get business rates relief worth over £6 billion.

The Universal Credit uplift of £20 a week is extended for another six months, and those on Working Tax Credit will receive an equivalent one-off payment of £500.

The National Living Wage rises to £8.91 from April.

Small and mediumsized employers can reclaim up to two weeks of eligible Statutory Sick Pay costs per employee from the government. This will give further support to individuals who have to self-isolate, extending £500 Test and Trace support payments in England until the summer.

Fuel duty will be frozen for the 11th consecutive year.

Alcohol duties are frozen for the second year running.

Extension to the temporary cut in Stamp Duty Land Tax to September.

A new mortgage guarantee scheme will enable homebuyers to secure a mortgage up to £600,000 with a five per cent deposit.

Extension of the temporary five per cent reduced rate of VAT until September 30.

A new £2.9 billion Restart programme will provide support to more than a million unemployed people.

A new “flexi-job” apprenticeship programme will be created.