budget-boost-for-young-families money budget2008 Virgin Media

Chancellor Alistair Darling has promised extra help for "hard-working families" in his 2008 Budget.

Mr Darling's measures include an increase in child benefit for the first child to £20 a week from April 2009 - a year earlier than planned.

Mr Darling also said £200 million will be invested in schoolsHe also promised to increase by £50 a year above inflation the child element of the Child Tax Credit for families on low and middle incomes from April next year.

"This means that a family with two children, earning up to £28,000 a year, will be over £130 a year better off," Mr Darling said.

Mr Darling also said £200 million will be invested in schools, bringing forward to 2011 Government target for all schools to have 30 per cent of pupils achieving five A-C grade GCSEs.

"I can announce today that we will commit £10 million over the next five years - which alongside contributions from the Wellcome Trust and private sector will create a £30 million Enthuse Science fund," he said.

"This will give every science teacher in secondary and further education access to high quality professional development helping improve the science offer to today's children."

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.