Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, has delivered his ninth Budget speech to the House of Commons.
Changes to duties, allowances and tax reliefs are largely in line with inflation.
The duty on a packet of cigarettes is to rise by 7p today. Excise duty on a pint of beer will rise by 1p and on a bottle of wine by 4p from Sunday. Duty on spirits has been frozen.
The budget was broadly welcomed by groups representing workers, charities, businesses and pensioners, among others.
Mr Brown announced a million new childcare places, and said paid maternity leave would be extended to one year. He said his goal was universal education starting at age three and continuing until 18.
VAT incurred by councils on children's centres and children's services will be refunded, and from next year, every pensioner and every disabled person will have free local bus travel. Charges on pensioners during hospital stays are being permanently abolished.
Mr Brown announced new tax reliefs for low-budget and larger-budget films.
He also said 7,800 civil service jobs are to be relocated out of London and the South East.
The Chancellor announced freezes on air passenger duty, insurance premium tax, climate change levy and company car tax, as well as corporation tax and capital gains tax, but the stamp duty threshold is doubled to £120,000.
Opening his Budget, which is probably the last before a May election, Mr Brown said he aimed to strike the right balance between tax cuts that were affordable, investments that are essential and stability that is paramount.
Vowing to put Britain's hard-working families first at all times, he added that the Budget choice was to lock in stability and never put it at risk.
The Chancellor also said Britain was experiencing the longest period of sustained economic growth since records began in 1701.
Inflation, at 1.6% today was expected to rise to 1.75% this year and 2% in 2006. Overall domestic demand was forecast to grow this year by 3.25 to 3.5% and by 2.5 to 3% in 2006.
