George Osborne says he will support Hull as UK city of culture in 2017.

The chancellor says this follows a request by Alan Johnson, Labour MP for Hull West and Hessle, though he cannot resist a dig at Mr Johnson's party.

The chancellor says sound public finances and public service reform can help the most disadvantaged in society, saying inequality and child poverty has decreased over the past five years, with the gender pay gap at its lowest ever.

George Osborne says the UK is committed to getting the EU to scrap the rules meaning VAT must be applied to sanitary products. But in the meantime, he says, he'll use the £15m a year the tampon tax raises to fund women's health charities.

The chancellor, who's been on his feet for just over 45 minutes now, confirms that funding for the BBC's World Service will be increased, as announced earlier this week. He also says the Big Lottery Funding will be protected.

George Osborne has promised loans for new medical students, 10,000 new training places, and an increase in the NHS budget that he says is the largest since it's creation.

George Osborne emphasises the importance of investment in culture and the arts. Arts Council funding will be increased, to maintain free museum entry. UK sport will get a 29% increase in their budget "so we go for gold in Rio and in Tokyo".

Spending on energy research is to be doubled, and there'll be a new Shale Wealth Fund of up to £1bn for communities affected by fracking industry, says the chancellor. Support for low carbon electricity and renewables to more than double, has also been announced.

The Spending Review "delivers what business need: competitive taxes", says George Osborne. 600,000 small businesses will gain from a rate-relief scheme for one more year, the chancellor adds.

The chancellor announces that Northern Ireland's block grant will be "over £11bn by 2019/20".

The block grant to Wales will be "almost £15bn by 2019/20" and income tax powers are to be devolved.

"We will legislate so that the devolution of income tax can take place without a referendum," George Osborne confirms.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' day-to-day budget falls by15%, the chancellor says, but there'll be £2bn to protect 300,000 homes from flooding. Protection also for national parks and forests, he says adding to laughter about a previous attempt to sell off forests: "We're not going to make that mistake again."

The Department for Energy and Climate Change's day-to-day spending will fall by 22%.

The Department for Transport's operational budget will fall by 37% but its capital spending will increase by 50% to £61bn. "That funds the largest road investment programme since the 1970s, for we are the builders," says George Osborne.