FACTBOX - What was in the pre-budget report

(Reuters) - The government announced on Monday it would pump 20 billion pounds into the economy in a last-ditch gamble to stave off a deep recession.

Chancellor Alistair Darling's package, known as the pre-budget report, included tax cuts and brought forward 3 billion pounds of capital spending.

His speech to Parliament also contained plans for future tax rises to pay for the package.

FISCAL STIMULUS

The economy is on the verge of recession but Prime Minister Gordon Brown argues that the downturn can be shorter and less painful if Britain takes "extraordinary action" by giving a fiscal boost to the economy, particularly if other countries do the same.

David Cameron, leader of the opposition Conservatives, is against driving up the national debt. "They are throwing money at us now to take it back at a later date," he told a business conference ahead of the report.

HIGHER BORROWING

Darling announced borrowing will rise to 78 billion pounds for the 2008/09 year, tearing up his previous forecast of 43 billion pounds as falling tax revenues and higher government spending kicks in.

Borrowing will rise to 118 billion pounds in 2009/10, or 8 per cent of GDP, he said. From 2010, it will fall to 105 billion pounds, then 87 billion pounds, 70 billion pounds and 54 billion pounds. By 2015/16, the government will borrow only to invest, he added.