Chancellor

Employers will have to take more responsibility for ensuring staff are suitably skilled to handle the jobs they do by allowing employees to take the required time out of the work environment, says the Chancellor Gordon Brown.

The Chancellor has announced plans to scrap stampd duty land tax on new build properties with a zero carbon rating for "a time limited period."

Chancellor Gordon Brown has just confirmed early in his 2006 Pre-Budget Report Isas will continue to exist to 2010 and beyond.

The Chancellor Gordon Brown is due to give his 10th Pre-Budget report this afternoon starting at around 12.30pm.

The annual attack on the stamp duty land tax and inheritance tax was launched today, with both the Halifax and John Charcol calling for the Chancellor to reform both ahead of his Pre-Budget report tomorrow.

The chancellor has promised to cut the amount of regulatory red tape imposed on British companies by a quarter, reports the Daily Telegraph .

The Chancellor has made two new appointments to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

The Chancellor has increased the Inheritance Tax threshold from £275,000 to £325,000 ensuring 90% of estates pay no tax.

Removal of tax breaks on direct investment in residential property and esoteric assets in Sipps has provoked a flood of comments from IFAs concerned about the effect on business and consumer confidence.

The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) is urging the Chancellor of the Exchequer to announce a review of the pensions and savings tax regime in his pre-budget report next month.