The government have confirmed that this year's Budget will be held on Wednesday the 24th of March.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, speaking at Canary Wharf, said the Budget would take place in "two weeks' time".

Alistair Darling has said that he is "absolutely committed" to reducing the UK's deficit and that his Budget would show he was on course to cut public borrowing from its forecast peak of £178bn this year.

Revised figures published in February showed the UK emerged more strongly from recession at the end of last year - with a 0.3% growth rather than 0.1% - than had previously been thought. However, many economists have warned that growth could falter again in the coming months.

It is expected that the general election will be held on the 6th of May, six weeks after the Budget.