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Key Budget measures include
Maintaining a stable economy
High quality public services

Productivity and enterprise in a flexible economy
Employment opportunity for all
Building a fairer society
Protecting the environment

Household income
Where taxpayers' money is spent
Further information
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Britain has high employment levels but the amount of output produced per worker - productivity - has historically been lower in the UK than in other major economies. Faster productivity growth, alongside higher levels of employment, will help to deliver greater economic prosperity and rising living standards. Recent figures suggest the UK's performance is improving, with UK productivity now higher than Germany and moving closer to France. Budget 2004 announces new measures to build on this progress, by boosting science, skills and enterprise in the UK, including:

• proposals for a New Deal for skills to ensure individuals are helped to develop the skills they need to find and progress in employment;


• consultation on a ten-year framework to boost investment in science and innovation in the UK;


• reforms to reduce the regulatory burden on business and help break down barriers to business success;


• measures to boost regional economic development, including final details of a scheme to provide incentives for local authorities to promote growth in their areas; and


• further reforms to the planning system and delivery of development to improve the supply of housing in the UK, in response to the independent review of housing supply led by Kate Barker.

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