In his 2005 Budget statement, the chancellor told MPs he was focussing on investment, tax cuts and stability.

His briefing to the Commons was the last before the expected general election.

Westminster watchers are also wondering whether it will be the last statement Brown delivers as chancellor.

The time it took:

Total length of speech: 48 minutes

Total wordcount: 6,880.

The words he used:

Tax/taxes: 54

Child/children: 32

Growth: 15

Stability: 13

Pensioners: 8

Public services: 3

Reform/reforming: 2

Euro/single currency: 2

Iraq: 1

Prudence/prudent: 1

Opportunity: 1

Africa: 1

Prime minister: 0

General election: 0