Delivering his pre-Budget report today, Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling announced plans for a one-off super-tax on bankers' bonuses.

He introduced a one-off levy of 50% on any individual discretionary bonus paid above £25,000. Speaking ahead of his announcement to Parliament, Mr Darling said the banks, rather than the bankers, will pay the levy and that anti-avoidance measures will be introduced immediately.

"There are some banks who still believe their priority is to pay substantial bonuses to some already high paid staff," says Darling. "Their priority should be to rebuild their financial strength and to increase their lending," he added. "If they insist on paying substantial rewards, I am determined to claw money back for the taxpayer."

Other pre-Budget report key announcements include:

• UK economy forecast to shrink 4.75% in 2009, worse than 3.5% forecast in April
• Growth of 1%-1.5% expected in 2010 and 3.5% in 2011 and 2012
• Forecast borrowing of £178bn in 2009, £3bn higher than predicted in April
• Estimated borrowing of £176bn in 2010 and £140bn in 2011, falling to £96bn in 2013
• Budget deficit to be halved by 2013
• Estimated public cost of bank bailouts cut from £50bn to £10bn
• VAT to return to 17.5% from 15% from 1 January 2010. No other changes to VAT
• All national insurance rates to rise by 0.5% from April 2011
• Increase in corporation tax for small businesses to be deferred
• Stamp duty holiday on certain properties to end on 1 January 2010