WHILE the key announcements made by the Chancellor on Wednesday have been welcomed, some feel many were forgotten by George Osborne

Making the headlines is the scrapping of proposed alterations to the tax credit system, which would have meant many families much worse off.

A number of other changes were also announced, with local authorities now having the power to raise council tax by two per cent as long as the cash is spent on adult social service.

Councils will also be able to keep 100 per cent of the money raised from selling assets, a small but significant announcement given Mr Osborne has said pressure will applied to local authorities to spend reserves to address funding gaps.

Other changes, such as protecting frontline policing, were welcomed by Swindon North MP Justin Tomlinson, who said: “This Autumn Statement delivers on the promise we made to working people in North Swindon that we would put their security first.

“Protecting our economic security by taking the difficult decisions to live within our means and bring our debts down.

“And protecting our national security by defending our country’s interests abroad and keeping our citizens safe at home.”

However, there had been some criticism from the opponents, who say there are still large sections of society are under pressure and have been given no help.

Leader of the Labour Group, Councillor Jim Grant (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney), said: “Public Services are under intense pressure from government budget cuts. There are Swindon schools forecast to set deficit budgets in the near future if they do not cut back on teaching staff.

“Ten Mental Health Trusts have written to the Chancellor warning of the disastrous impact that a lack of government funding will have on mental health sufferers.

“And the Chancellor has left the social care sector in utter crisis.”

While many businesses welcomed the changes to tax credits and other giveaways, some say more could have been done to help business.

Shane Horsell who owns TaxAssist Accountants in Royal Wootton Bassett said: "We wanted more recognition of the hard work and major contribution made by small businesses to the UK economy.

“You could say it's a case of no news is good news for local business owners, but I think there has been a huge opportunity missed to reward those enterprises which are the backbone of our economy.”

But Malcom Emery, a partner at Thrings solicitors, said the countries financial situation meant many of the changes away from the headlines were understandable.

He said: ““The rise in the basic state pension, protection of police budgets and the increase in financial support for education will have been welcomed by many people in the UK.

“Little was offered by the Chancellor on further tax cuts, although this is perhaps not surprising as many are still working through the reforms he proposed in his summer Budget to non-domiciled individuals living in the UK and the taxation of dividend income.”