In a statement, the Bishop of Birmingham, Rt Revd David Urquhart, who speaks on behalf of the bishops in the House of Lords, welcomed some of the measures but raised concern of some of the issues that were missed.

“The Chancellor’s Budget has gone some way to deal with the immediate problems facing our economy, housing and NHS,” he said. “But it could have gone much further to help the many at the sharp end struggling to get by.

“Across the country churches support and are in touch with those who experience poverty or financial difficulty as a result of low pay, illness, or debt.

“The Budget statement provided an opportunity to make a difference to the lives of the most disadvantaged at a time when the cost of living is rising.

“The country faces substantial financial challenges and the growth forecast downgrades are worrying. But whilst the Chancellor has limited room for manoeuvre, there is more that could have been done to alleviate the situation of those who are struggling to manage.”

Meanwhile, Christian charity CARE raised concern that families haven’t been prioritised in the budget.

CARE’s Chief Executive, Nola Leach said: “Once again the Government has failed to take account of the tax burden that one earner families face in our current tax system. New research shows it is the highest amongst OECD countries, and this budget has done nothing to reduce it.

“Today was a missed opportunity for change, instead of prioritising struggling families in the…

Forty items from the Holy See’s collection of Chinese bronzes, ceramics and paintings will tour four cities including Beijing and Shanghai in March next year, in return for 40 pieces being lent to the Vatican’s museums.

Zhu Jiancheng, head of the Chinese government’s China Culture Industrial Investment Fund told a Vatican news conference he hoped the agreement would cement friendship, foster mutual trust and “contribute to the normalisation of diplomatic relations”.

While China severed ties with the Holy See in 1951, both Pope Francis and his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI have been keen to improve relations.

Diplomatic efforts between Beijing and Vatican City have remained strained over resistance to the Vatican’s insistence that the Pope should have authority to name Chinese bishops, a move China views as an infringement on its sovereignty.

There is speculation among academics and human rights campaigners that China’s President Xi Jinping will take a tougher stance on religious freedom, following his appointment to a second term as leader of the ruling Communist Party.

The Salvation Army’s call came ahead of the budget announcement on Wednesday afternoon and after new figures from the charity found three quarters of people across the UK think that more families are struggling financially today than they were five years ago.

The nationwide survey, which asked more than 2,000 people to give their opinions on rates of family poverty, revealed that 45 per cent believe that homelessness has increased in their community, and a further 71 per cent think there are more homeless people across the UK now than in 2012.

The results of the survey echoed The Salvation Army’s worries about the effect the roll out of Universal Credit could have on the most vulnerable people.

Staff claimed the average six-week waiting lists for people to receive their Universal Credit payments has plunged more households into greater financial hardship; they want the rollout to be paused while the Government “fixes its bureaucratic procedures”.

The Salvation Army’s director for community services, Tony Daniels said: “Staff and volunteers at our churches and social centres across the UK have seen growing numbers of individuals and families on low incomes who are struggling to put food on the table or keep a roof over their heads.

“So often the people they meet have been forced to come to The Salvation Army because they are waiting for their Universal Credit claims to be processed or they’ve seen their…