In focus: Finding pluses and minuses of pre-Brexit Budget

Encouraging practices to invest

Measure: The government has increased investment allowances to stimulate spend.

Verdict: Many thought this form of company tax relief would be phased away but it has actually been given a new lease of life. The change results in practices being able to deduct from their taxable profits up to £1m of new investment per annum, a fivefold increase on the previous level. However, this temporary increase will only last until December 31, 2020.

Income tax relief

Measure: Lowering of personal allowances designed to get people spending.

Verdict: This certainly was good news for everyone as the Chancellor brought forward by 12 months an increase of £650 to the tax-free personal allowance. All taxpayers would therefore have an extra £130 in their pockets for the tax year starting from April 6, 2019. Additionally, there was an increase in the starting level of 40% higher rate tax to £50,000, worth an extra £730 to higher rate taxpayers. Taken together, anyone earning over £50,000 in the next tax year will have their income tax bill reduced by a total of £860, a tidy sum to remind your patients of when they are thinking of buying new frames.