Chinese suppliers are asking some of the biggest clothing chains for price increases of more than 10 per cent in a fresh sign of the growing inflationary risks facing the economy.

Businesses will receive more than £680 million worth of tax relief from the Chancellor over the next three years, but almost £1.4 billion worth of new taxes will eat away at any gains they might have made.

A promise to consign the plastic bag to the waste bin was dismissed as mere tinkering by environmental campaigners, who accused the Chancellor of doing too little on climate change.

Energy suppliers were granted a reprieve from the threat of government action to cut gas and electricity bills but Alistair Darling warned them he would legislate "as necessary" to secure extra help for people using pre-payment meters or on low incomes.Yvette Cooper, the chief secretary to the Treasury, and her officials had been in intensive talks with the industry in the days leading up to the Budget in the hope of securing agreement to a package that could have been announced yesterday. The talks continued until Monday.

The very mention of sick notes and GP’s is the equivalent of lighting the blue touch paper and preparing to stand well back for most employers. Jonathan Whittaker, partner at SAS Daniels, looks at whether the proposal of a 'well note' will solve anything.

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