The investment industry has called this year's Autumn Statement a "non-event" with Chancellor Philip Hammond merely "tinkering at the edges" rather than introducing any major changes.
Infrastructure/R&D
Christopher Mahon, investment manager and director of asset allocation research at Barings
"The Chancellor's infrastructure plan is upside down. The Treasury has already committed eye watering sums of money to programmes such as HS2, Heathrow and Hinkley that will not be completed for another 20 years.
"Billions upon billions have been promised, with those projects costing £56bn, £19bn, and £18bn respectively.
"Meanwhile only token amounts of money are being spent on practical projects that are needed today such as easing rail and road bottlenecks.
"So it is a great shame that the Chancellor continues to be seduced by the glamour of the mega and ignores the utility and timeliness of the micro."
Mark Tighe, managing director of R&D tax relief specialists at RD Tax Solutions
"In today's tech-driven UK economy, R&D is the new rock 'n' roll. The government is acutely aware that if this country wants to stay competitive globally, R&D is vital, and in this Autumn Statement it has put its money where its mouth is."
Jamie Clark, co-manager on the Liontrust Macro Equity Income fund
"Although a mixture of both novel and pre-announced measures, the £23bn initiative's emphasis on R&D, housing, transport and digital infrastructure signals that the state will be assuming a bigger role in the economic life of the country."
Savings and pensions
Danny Cox, chartered financial planner at Hargreaves Lansdown
"We saw from the popularity of the NS&I "pensioner" bonds introduced back in January 2015, how savers are desperate for a better return on their cash.
"With no end to low interest rates in sight a new bond aiming to pay 2.2% over 3 years and a limit of £3,000 is a decent gesture, but with inflation rising and heading toward 3%, its unlikely money in this new bond savings will do anything but go backwards."
Gregg McClymont, head of retirement savings at Aberdeen Asset Management and former Labour shadows pensions minister
"Savers will breathe a sigh of relief that the annual upturning of the pensions applecart has been suspended.
Autumn Statement 2016: Hammond unveils three-year NS&I savings bond yielding 2.2%
"The Chancellor confirmed the triple lock on state pensions will remain in place until 2020 but thereafter will be open to review; that the right to buy ISA would continue as part of package of housing supply growth measures; and perhaps most strikingly slashed the annual Money Purchase Allowance for individuals."
Gary Smith, financial planner at Tilney
"The main announcement that stood out for me was the announcement of the consultation on reducing the Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPAA) to £4,000 from April 2017.
"This represents a substantial reduction in the ability to make pension funding for those affected, and is aimed at reducing the potential for savers to recycle pension income to boost tax-free cash.
"While the Government paper estimates that only 3% of savers would be affected by this reduction, my concern is that many individuals will be unaware that they have triggered the MPAA and could face tax charges if future pension funding exceeds the £4,000 (gross) per tax-year."
