Money In Brief

Making Headway

Lloyds Bank is offering free pounds 2 Mercury phone cards, and pounds 2 refund vouchers from Top Shop and Top Man, plus a free bowling voucher and other discounts to young people who open a Headway account, aimed at 11- to 17-year-olds.

Asking advice

A free leaflet with key questions investors should be asking prospective independent financial advisers, is available from The Investors Portfolio, Troston Lodge, Troston, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 1EW.

Teaching at home

Endsleigh is cutting the cost of its home and contents insurance from 10 to 15 per cent for teachers and lecturers who belong to the AUT, Nasuwt and Natfhe. Further details are available from all Endsleigh branches, or call 0242 223300.

Tips to cut tax

A free guide on reducing tax is available from The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, at Chartered Accountants' Hall, Moorgate Place, London EC2P 2BJ.

Premiums cut

Hill House Hammond is cutting premiums by between 10 and 60 per cent on a range of household and contents insurance policies. More details from local branches, or by calling 0345 123111 (local rate).

High street low

National & Provincial is offering what it claims are the cheapest high street personal loans available. Rates range between 14.9 per cent APR for loans above pounds 5,000 to 18.9 per cent for those below pounds 2,000. Details on 0800 808080.

Trust in science

Rothschild Asset Management is launching an investment trust in biotechnology companies. The trust is aiming at long-term capital growth by investing in companies across the world. Details from the trust's broker, Robert Fleming & Co, on 071-638 5858.

Phone shares

Share Centre, a Hertfordshire- based stockbroker, is offering a low-cost telephone share-dealing service to investors who deal frequently. Rates for the top 100 shares are 1 per cent for up to pounds 2,000, 0.64 per cent for the next pounds 3,000, falling to 0.4 for the next pounds 5,000 and 0.2 per cent thereafter. Freephone: 0800 800 008.

Helpers exempted

The Inland Revenue is to allow banks to accept tax exemption forms from people appointed by the DSS on behalf of someone incapable of managing their own affairs. Details from Inland Revenue leaflet IR110.