Budget 2021 live: Rishi Sunak unveils tax and spending plans | Politics

Sunak says the OBR expects the recovery to be quicker than originally forecast.

They think it will return to pre-Covid levels at the turn of the year.

Growth is now forecast to be 6.5% this year, followed by 6% next year.

Sunak turns to inflation, saying it is forecast to reach 4% over the next year.

This is a global problem, he says. It has been caused by rising energy prices and problems with supply chains.

It would be irresponsible to pretend these problems can be solved overnight, he says.

The UK cannot address them on their own. But it will act where it can.

He says the government has taken measures to address the HGV driver shortage, and today there is new funding to improve lorry parks.

And he says the HGV levy, already suspended until August, will be suspended for a further year. And vehicle excise duty for heavy goods vehicles will be frozen, he says.

Sunak says today’s budget does not draw a line under Covid.

But it begins the work of looking to a post-Covid economy. It will be an economy for a new age of optimism, he says, “where the only limit to our potential is the effort we are prepared to put in and the sacrifices we are prepared to make”.

Sunak says the government will always give people the support they need.

And it will level up. For too long the location of your birth has determined too much of your future.

Rishi Sunak opens by telling Laing that he has listened very carefully to her point.

He says:

Employment is up, investment is growing, public services are improving, the public finances are stabilising and wages are rising.

Eleanor Laing, the deputy Speaker who is in the chair for the budget, starts with a statement about the pre-briefing of budget announcements. She says in the past stories have been briefed under embargo, for use after the statement has been delivered.

This year has been different. Information has been briefed for use ahead of the budget, she says.

(Laing’s summary of the situation is not quite right. This is something that has been happening regularly for years – although it has been more extensive this year than in the past.)

Laing says she hopes this will not happen again.

She tells Rishi Sunak they are looking forward to hearing “the remainder of your announcements.)

Stephen Kinnock (Lab) says the steel industry needs support with high energy prices. Will the government put in place a wholesale energy price cap?

Johnson says this is an important point. Energy intensive industries have had about £2bn to help since 2013, he says.

And that’s the end of PMQs. The budget statement is starting now

Martin Vickers (Con) asks if the government will continue to develop renewable energy.

Yes, says Johnson. The UK now produces more offshore wind energy. That is going to increase massively, he says.

Zara Sultana (Lab) asks about donations to the Tories from fossil fuel companies. Will the PM pay back this money and never again take money from these companies?

Johnson says all Tory donations are registered in the normal way. He says the GMB opposes Labour’s policies because it sees them as anti-flight and anti-car.

Ben Bradshaw (Lab) asks if was a mistake to abandon all Covid measures in July. And if it wasn’t, why are the UK’s figure so bad?

Johnson says he sees no reason to deviate from the roadmap. He says the UK has the fastest economic growth in the G7.

Anna McMorrin (Lab) asks what is being done to protect women from spiking.

Johnson says spiking is already a criminal offence. People with information about this should contact the police, he says.

Robbie Moore (Con) asks the government for a new hospital in his constituency.

Johnson says there have been 120 applications for the biggest hospital building programme in a generation.