The Budget: how it affects the tech industry

 

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By Hani Megerisi

Posted on 24 Mar 2010 at 15:12

The Government has announced plans to get more people into the technology sector in today's Budget.

The Government will spend £270 million to fund an extra 20,000 places on science, technology and maths university courses in 2010-11. This follows the 10,000 extra places on these courses made available last summer.

“These extra places allow us to strengthen our offer to our young people and ease parents' concern that their child's first taste of life after school or college will be a prolonged spell in the dole queue,” Chancellor Alistair Darling announced.

Tax breaks for the UK gaming sector were also outlined, following pleas for Government support from the industry. “Our creative industries are a huge source of jobs, wealth and pride," said Darling. "I will offer help to the computer games sector, similar to the steps which are helping restore the fortunes of the British film industry."

The Budget reaffirmed Labour’s 50p broadband tax on landline telephones, which it will use to fund the rollout of super-fast broadband to 90% of the country by 2017.

Earlier this week, the Government pledged to deliver high speed broadband to all of the UK by 2020.