Budget date; national ROUND-UP.

CHANCELLOR Alistair Darling will deliver his crucial Pre-Budget Report on December 9. The financial package will draw the battle lines for the General Election, with all the main parties focusing on how public spending can be reined in.

Mr Darling is expected to give more details of how he plans to get the Government's finances back on track after the massive bank bail-outs and slump in tax revenues. He will also release the Treasury's latest predictions for the UK economy's recovery after the recession.