Bygone budgets: March 1982

The Chancellor spoke of the industrial decline of Britain and called his budget "a budget for industry and so a budget for jobs". Conservative MPs criticised the budget, concerned that it did little to reduce unemployment from its level of three million, while Labour leader Michael Foot said it showed "no proper understanding of the scale of the unemployment catastrophe".

Personal allowances
Income tax personal allowances raised by 2% more than the 12% needed to match inflation during 1981.

National insurance
Employers' national insurance surcharge cut by 1% to 2.5%.

Pensions
Increased by 11% to £32.85 (single person).

Road tax
Increased by £10 to £80.

Duties
Beer up 2p, wine up 10p a bottle, spirits up 30p, 20 cigarettes up 5p.