In the event, the report, published on Monday, contained a raft of measures aimed at helping ease the burden on those at the sharp end of the economic downturn, from homeowners missing mortgage payments to pensioners struggling with winter fuel bills.

But was it enough? The Scotsman asked the experts for their verdict on the Chancellor's moves to address the issues they focus on.

Pensioners

WHAT WAS PROMISED

All pensioners will get a New Year bonus of £60, in addition to the annual Christmas bonus of £10. Pension credit rises from £124 a week to £130 – from £189 to £198 for couples – and is being brought forward to January. The basic state pension – linked to the September rate of inflation – goes up from £90.70 a week to £95.25.

VERDICT

Helena Scott, head of policy and research, Age Concern Scotland:

"A one-off payment does not solve the problem. It is about recognising that pensioners need incomes to increase and ideally we would like pensions to be index-linked."

Mervyn Kohler, spokesperson, Help the Aged:

"Squeezed by high inflation on basic goods and services, especially fuel, older people were desperately looking for substantial help this winter – but the chilling message from the Chancellor of the Exchequer is 'keep struggling'.

"Where the PBR could have represented a brave new approach to meeting older people's needs and investing in services which are important to them, this announcement is a policy of baby steps."

Low-income families

WHAT WAS PROMISED

Child benefit will rise to £20 a week for the first child and benefits for subsequent children go up to £13.20 a week, with both increases brought forward by three months to January.

The child element of the tax credit will increase by £25 above indexation and is being brought forward a year to April 2009.

VERDICT

Eric Nisbet, director of Independent Insolvency Practitioners for Scotland:

"It is good news that child tax credits and personal tax allowances for low earners are going up and that a new Saving Gateway will help people on low incomes quickly grow their savings by adding 50p to every £1 they put aside.

"However the truth is that many households still face huge challenges in the deteriorating economic environment and many will still struggle with their existing debt."

Repossessions

WHAT WAS PROMISED

Darling said agreement had been reached with lenders that they must wait for three months before initiating formal repossession proceedings where homeowners are struggling with payments.

However, many lenders already worked on this basis.

The government is also extending income support for mortgage interest (ISMI), paying out after 13 weeks from April instead of 39 weeks, and covering mortgage debt of up to £200,000.

VERDICT

Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland:

"We hope that the UK government's announcement on Monday that lenders will wait three months before proceeding with court action will apply to as many homeowners threatened with repossession in Scotland as possible. The ISMI will help, but only for a proportion of people and it needs to be part of a package of measures."

Debt

WHAT WAS PROMISED

An extra £15.85 million was pledged by Chancellor Darling to extend free debt advice across the UK.Of the sum, £5.8m will be allocated to the Money Advice Trust to bolster phone services, and £10m will be given to Citizens Advice

VERDICT

Ian Wright, managing director of newtomorrow.com.

"It isn't going to help. People already in serious debt won't be helped by altering income here and there. It's about communicating that help is there and giving more funding to Citizens Advice and other advice centres. They are seriously under-resourced and need every penny."

Energy bills

WHAT WAS PROMISED

£100m of new funding is being made available for the Warm Front programme on top of £50m of earmarked spending that is being brought forward. The "Decent Homes" scheme, which helps social houses with heating and energy efficiency measures, will get £60m in funding. The Chancellor also pledged that if there is evidence that energy companies are not reflecting the fall of wholesale energy in reduced gas and electricity bills, he will use statutory powers to cut energy bills.

VERDICT

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern:

"Increased funding for Warm Front is very welcome as is the clear commitment to tackle unfair pricing policies which mean poorer customers pay more. But a radical new fuel poverty strategy is urgently needed to help the poorest pensioners and families who are struggling to afford their bills."

REDUNDANCY

WHAT WAS PROMISED

A national employment partnership with 20 of the UK's largest employers, including Royal Mail, Centrica and Tesco, to work with the DWP and Jobcentre Plus to fill vacancies around the UK and offer access to work-related training. There will be also be pre-redundancy training through the Train to Regain scheme and additional support for the New Deal scheme and Job Centre Plus.

VERDICT

Kate Green, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group:

"With unemployment rising fast, the government has rightly recognised the vital importance of ensuring Jobcentre Plus has the resources for high quality support services. A quick return to employment is the best protection for a family at risk from recent redundancy.

"The long-term unemployed will benefit too from support that helps them compete for the vacancies on offer now and become better skilled for when the economy recovers and labour demand rises again."