1. Selective schooling is back

Chancellor Philip Hammond announced a £320 million fund for 140 new free schools, including selective grammars.

The Government is determined to make it work, promising free transport for any pupils entitled to free school meals who get into selective schools.

Contrast that with £218 million for state school buildings - spread across 24,000 of them over a three-year period.

2. Self employed? Time to cough up

From April 2018 National Insurance contributions for self-employed people will rise from nine to 10 per cent of profits, before going to 11 per cent in 2019.

That's an extra £240-a-year to the state for an estimated £1.6 million sole traders, although people earning below £16,250 will be protected.

3. The social care crisis is on the agenda

Finally some firm extra funding has been found for adult social care, with £2 billion being coughed up over a three year-period.

Some £1 billion will be made available upfront, giving under-pressure councils some respite.

It won't deliver long-term change, but it will help.

4. It's smiles at the local

A £1,000 a year tax cut has been offered to pubs, giving our struggling boozers a lifeline.

The tax reduction will benefit pubs with rateable values of under £100,000, which happens to be 90 per cent of them.

5. The economy is holding firm, but for how long?

Growth forecasts for 2017 have been upped from just 1.4 per cent to two per cent, a sharp upward revision reflecting continued confidence in the economy.

Borrowing is also down, but growth is expected to slow to 1.6 per cent the following year, only climbing above two per cent in 2021.