UK's Hunt pledges to boost growth

STORY: Hunt, who steadied financial markets after the turmoil of former Prime Minister Liz Truss' "mini-budget" in September last year, is preparing to announce a plan for growth in a budget statement in March.

His comments come days after the head of the Confederation of British Industry warned that Britain had been "spectacularly overlapped and overtaken" on green investment.

Hunt said he wanted Britain to host the most competitive tax regime of any major country - but that sound money should come first. He also called for public spending restraint.

Tackling high inflation was a top priority, he said.

Hunt urged older people to return to the workforce, saying the country needed them and he was looking at ways to make "work worth your while."