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Do you consider yourself to be one of those 'hard-working families' that politicians, of whatever political colour, keep banging on about these days? Or, are you someone who has not yet started a family, has decided not to have a family at all, or whose family has grown up and left home already? Gordon Brown's Pre-Budget Report this week outlined proposals that seemed destined for 'hard-working families' only and one wonders what there was the rest of us who only meet half the criteria. Fortunately, there was one good piece of news for all of us. The Chancellor plans to retain the current contribution limit of £7,000 for maxi ISAs and £3,000 for mini ISAs instead of reducing the amount to £5,000 and £1,000 respectively from April 2006. For some reason he feels the need to consult on the issue but considering there's been such an outcry at the thought of him cutting back on the amount we can save tax-free, I can't imagine who's going to think it a bad idea. For parents, he wants to extend paid maternity leave from six months to nine months and allow mothers to transfer the leave to the father. The childcare tax credit will also increase for parents earning less than £59,000 a year while three and four-year olds will get 15 hours of free nursery care from April 2007 (it's only 10 at the moment). Schools will also be given extra funds if they open from 8am to 6pm to look after children whose parents are at work. In a further boost for new parents, children will get £250 from the government for their Child Trust Fund when they reach seven years old on top of the £250 paid at birth. (For parents on low incomes the contribution will be £500). Single parents and the long-term sick are to get a £40 a week bonus for a year if they return to work and the winter fuel payments for the over-70s will increase by £50 to £250. The higher rate for the over-80's will increase to £350. Not surprisingly, as I don't have children, I'm more interested in the news about ISAs. But then I've never really understood why the Chancellor seems so determined to make as many people as possible dependent on benefits. Get your ISA now in case the Chancellor changes his mind!