Autumn Statement: George Osborne on the defence

The government insists it will be able to deliver the level of savings needed in order to balance the books.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies says the plans set out by Chancellor George Osborne in the Autumn Statement would result in government spending cuts "on a colossal scale".

Forecasters predict that public spending will fall to levels not seen since the 1930s, suggesting, says the Office for Budget Responsibility, the loss of hundreds of thousands of public sector jobs.

Robin Brant reports.