every wednesday while parliament is in session, prime minister david cameron takes questions from members of the house of commons. prior to question time, the house is wrapping up other business. this is live coverage on c-span2. >> number 12, mr. speaker. >> mr. speaker, they are performing well with u.k. funding against agreed performance indicators delivering, for instance, teaching to nearly half a million children and social services to over a quarter of a million. during my recent visit to the palestinian territories, i announced an extra 8 million pounds to reward the good performance and to ease their budget shortfall. >> jason joseph. >> i thank the minister for the answer. during a recent visit to gaza, it was obvious they are struggling tots the construction materials it needs to rebuild schools and find housing for refugees. does the minister agree that they would derive greater value for money if the partial blockade would be completely lifted? >> mr. speaker, i wholly agree

with my honorable friend. i'm glad he was able to see the situation in gaza for himself. but some progress has been made since israel lifted some of the restrictiontions. >> here on c-span2, we'll leave the british house of commons now as they move on to other legislative business. you've been watching prime minister's question time. >> order, questions to the prime minister. mark lancaster. >> question number one, sir, prime minister, thank you mr. speaker. i'm sure the whole house will wish to join me in paying tribute to ranger aaron mccormick of the first battalion who died on remembrance sunday. his commanding officer has described him as the epitome of the irish infantry soldier, tough, selfish, good humored and good compassion. he showed bravery leading the way in clear ieds for the safety

of the civilians and his fellow soldiers. he send our sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. i'm sure the whole house would wish to join me in sending our warmest condolence to prince william and kate middleton on their engagement we look forward to the wedding itself with excitement and anticipation. mr. speaker, this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and in addition to my duties in this house i shall have other duties today. >> mark lancaster. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i associate myself with the prime minister's comments. the best piece of news with the unemployment figures is the rise of the unemployment count but small businesses are still concerned at both the cost of the bureaucracy of taking extra workers on. what can the government do to help them? >> i think my honorable friend makes a good point. we have to make it easier on small businesses to take people

on. the figures are good news. the claimant count is down 3,700 on the month. unemployment is defined by the ilo is down 9,000 and employment is up 167,000 on the quarter. we are helping small businesses by cutting the small business rate of corporation tax. we have the one in, one out rule so that regulations may be limited and we have a new enterprise capital fund to provide additional equity finance. we need to do all these things but i think more to help small businesses take people off the unemployment register and get them back in employment. >> harriet harman. >> can i join the prime minister of ranger mccormick of the royal irish regiment who died on sunday. his brave services in our armed services will be remembered. and i also join our prime minister in sending our warmest

congratulations to prince william and kate middleton on their engagement? mr. speaker, would the prime minister tell the house how many fewer police officers there will be as a result of his 20% real terms cut in the police budget. >> well, it will be up to individual police forces. this is very important to try and make sure that they maximize the resources on the front line. what we said in the spending review is that it is possible to keep the high level of visibility and activity of police on our streets. that is the challenge to every police force in the country. and i think when you look across police forces and you see how many officers there are in h.r. and in i.t. and in back-office functions, i think we can succeed in this. >> harriet harman. >> but it's said that, of course, while there are efficiencies, beyond 12% cuts there will inevitably be cuts in front line police officers.

and he's asking not for 12% but for 20% cut. as usual, the prime minister has ducked the question and he won't admit how many front line police he's cutting. he used to be very clear about protecting front line service. this is what he said on may the 2nd. any cabinet minister, if i win the election, who comes to me and says, here are my plans and they involve front line reductions, they will be sent straight back to their department to go away and think again. so what did he is to the home secretary? -- did he say to the home secretary? >> this is -- this is a question that's been asked of her own shadow home secretary. now the shadow chancellor. and this is what he said. he was asked -- he was asked -- easy. >> order, order. the prime minister's answers will be heard. order. order.

what opposition members make of them is up to them but they will hear them. prime minister. >> thank you, mr. speaker. it was a very simple question from andrew neil to the shadow chancellor. can you guarantee if you form the next government that police numbers won't fall? alan johnson, no. that is what they said. they can engage. if she wants to, why don't we engage in a proper debate about how we try and make sure we maximize resources on the front line? that is what we are asking the police force to do. that is what the opposition should be involved in. instead of this cheap game. >> harriet harman. >> we were absolutely clear in our manifesto and the home secretary was absolutely clear that we would guarantee the central government funding to protect front line services. and no wonder his back benches are so silent. he's planning to cut their police force by 20%.

well, mr. speaker, mr. speaker, mr. speaker, their constituents will be astonished to see them cheering 20% cuts in the police budget. mr. speaker, he will be aware of the report of the chief constable of greater manchester setting out how front line police will have to be cut. what does he say to the people of greater manchester who will be deeply worried about the cut in police numbers? >> well, first of all, let me answer the point she said about what labour said after the election. after the election again the shadow chancellor was asked. she raised the point after the election. if labour had won the general election, the home office budget would have been cut and the police would have had to make savings. that is what they said. now, she asks -- she asks about greater manchester. let me answer specifically about greater manchester.

first of all, the chief constable of greater manchester have said his plans are putting the maximum resources on front line policing. and i'm not surprised -- and i'm not surprised he's able to say that because here are the figures for the employment numbers in those back-office functions. human resources, 187 people for that force. vehicle -- fleet vehicle maintenance, 106 people. finance, 106. they want to know the facts about greater manchester police. these are the facts from the police. i.t., guess how many people there are involved in i.t. in greater manchester police? 225. now, this is the debate we ought to be having. how do we get resources from the back office onto the front line? how do we do it when right now only 11% of police officers are on the streets at any one time. that is the mess we've inherited. that's the mess we're going to

clear up. >> harriet harman. >> but the chief constable's report is clear. as well as cutting important back-office staff, front line police will have to be cut. the prime minister says that all of this is unavoidable. he always says that because of the deficit reduction. okay, okay, okay. in that case, in that case, in that case key explain why he's spending what the association of police authorities say is 100 million pounds creating new elected police commissioners at the same time as cutting police numbers? >> the police commissioners will replace the police authorities. that's the point. but the key -- the key issue she has now addressed we are doing this because we inherited the

biggest budget deficit in the big 20. it wasn't labour cutting cuts. we just to have introduce measures to deal with the mess that they made. but instead of just top-down cuts we want to work with these organizations and say how do we help you to maximize the impact on the front line? that's why we are scrapping the stop form, labour introduced that. that is going to save 450,000 hours of police time. we are going to limit stop and search reporting which will save another 350,000 hours of police time. this is the nonsense the bureaucracy, the form-filling they put in place and we want the police to get out and do the job people want them to do. >> harriet har money. -- harman. >> that extra hundred million pounds he's spending on elect g electing.

will he drop his proposal for elected police commissioners and give the police the resources they need to protect front line applying? -- policing. >> the straight answer to that is no i won't. and i'll tell you why. it's about time we had more accountable police forces in our country. i want there to be police commissioners so that when they do a good job calling the police to account and they're fighting crime in the way local people want, they get re-elected and if they do a bad job they'll get thrown out. democracy is a great thing we all think in here. what about a bit of democracy in policing is well. -- as well. >> they want to say local police on their local streets and there he is -- there he is posing as the guardian of probity in public finances. and, mr. speaker, it can't be denied, he knows a thing or two about posing. why, why at the same time as he's cutting police numbers -- why did he choose to use public

money not just on a vanity photographer but putting staff from tory h.q. onto the public payroll with taxpayers footing the bill? why did he do that? >> even the jokes are lame this week, i've got to say. should i tell you a few people -- let me tell you a few people we won't be employing. we won't have special advisors ordering around civil servants like they did. we won't -- we won't be employing -- we won't be employing damon mcbride to smear the wives and families of politicians. we won't be employing alistar campbell to sex up dossiers. i've got a list -- i've got a list -- >> more! >> more? there's plenty more. there's plenty of more. i've got a whole list -- i've got a whole list of people that are employed by the last government.

[laughter] >> we could try -- here's one. i've got one here. ruth mckenzie. she was a labour party employee. she then became an expert advisor in the department. what was her qualification? well, according to the guardian, she speaks new labour. that's a great qualification. there's another one here. >> order. i think i got the gist of it. we don't need to hear anymore. let me just say to the house -- order. let me just say to the house and that includes every member of the house. it is now time that we got back to questions and answers about the policies of the government. that's what the public expects. that is what the public is entitled to get. mr. brian binly. >> thank you, mr. speaker.

more than 41% of all loans drawn from the enterprise finance guarantee scheme were issued by the royal bank of scotland. and a further 30% by banks and yet there are 27 banks operating in the marketplace. no matter how you look at the figures, it means that 25 banks are simply not doing their jobs and supporting smes. what would the prime minister do to ensure those dilatory banks do all they can to help smes have the working capital -- >> the honorable gentleman will resume his seat not when he choose but when i choose. >> honorable gentleman has spoken up passionately and rightly about this issue. because one of the keys of securing activity is to get bank lending going and the point he makes extremely valid. there's a bank-led 1 billion growth.

we added that with the enterprise capital funds program and the enterprise finance guarantee. that should secure an extra 2 billion pounds worth of lending but i agree with him. we need to be vigilant on this issue and keep pressurizing the banks to do more to help those small businesses. >> jemma doyle. >> thank you, mr. speaker. reports today says as mistaken 1700 of my constituents will lose their job as a direct consequence of the government spending cuts. what the prime minister take that they do not reach the levels of debt like under the last tory government. >> well, what we have to do and the honorable lady is right. we have to make sure there's a private led security. that's why we've got low interest rates and corporation tax going down and capital insurance for new firms that are hiring people and less regulation. we've got all these advantages of the economy and we need to engineer a private sector-led economy and the unemployment figures today which i noticed the leader of the opposition

didn't go anywhere near are a good sign that the private sector is underway. >> in september, despite an outstanding head teacher making formal complaints about the inspector and the poorly constructed report two teachers have resigned from the school and the head teacher is now asking for the school to be reinspected. would the prime minister visit this tremendous school to hear firsthand the disgraceful and bureaucratic way officers have treated this school and we press this to withdraw this flawed report while an independent inquiry is actually launched? >> well, the honorable lady speaks up and i understand. school inspections are carried out to the highest possible standards. and i don't think it would be right for me to comment on detail on a individual case but what i would say is this. there would be dangers of automatically withdrawing a report because a complaint has been made. some might use that to frustrate

the process but we do need to make sure that reports are done in a very good and professional manner. >> brian. >> number four, mr. speaker. >> i look forward to visiting scotland, soon. >> mr. speaker, he doesn't say he was coming to central ayrshir herb. -- ayrshire. is it possible that given the reports in national place the largest in my constituency having the highest unemployment in scotland would he meet a small delegation to discuss the whole question of unemployment? >> i think the honorable gentleman will be raising the next issues in the next few years. how we get people out of unemployment and also how we make sure that losses of jobs in the public sector are made up for growth in the private sector? that is an absolutely key area.

that's why bank matter and why tax rates matter. that's why the regional growth fund that we're introducing helps. i'm certainly happy to meet with the honorable gentleman. i want to keep him in a little bit of sense just in case i don't intake to central ayrshire. >> many hundreds of people are affected and there's been significant damage and disruption within central area. will he join me in commending the professionalism of the american services and their response to the incident? and will he further commit the government doing all he can to help the affected communities in the coming weeks and months? >> i can certainly do that. i've just spoken to the leader of the area about the situation about cornwall. i think the emergency services,

the police, the coast guard, the fire services, search and rescue -- they've been working around-the-clock and they've done a fantastic job. and the message is loud and clear from this house. there are no reports of casualties yet but there have been some medical evacuations, the train line is still blocked. the a38 is still closed but i know everyone is working around-the-clock to try and get this sorted. we have said that we're standby and ready -- stand ready to help in any way that we can and i think what he says important. we have to remember when the floodwaters actually start to recede, that's when many of the biggest problems arise over assurance and getting people back in their homes and we got to make sure we help people every way we can. >> owen smith? >> mr. speaker, in january of this year, the prime minister said that midwives are stretched to breaking point so we will increase the number of midwives by 3,000. under conservative government that's what parents want and that's what they will get. now, this morning the prime minister stands accused by the

royal college of midwives of renegativing on that promise. depth to take this opportunity to differentiate himself from his deputies attitude to such stolen promises and honor that pledge to midwives and mothers? >> we do want to see an increase in midwives and unlike the party a, we're actually funding the health service in a way that makes that possible. the point is that the -- his shadow chancellor said when asked about our pledge to increase funding in the health service, he said there is no logic, sense or rationality to it at all. now, i know the honorable gentleman used to work on the today program so let me give him a thought for the day. the health service is better off with our government. >> gordon henderson. >> thank you, mr. speaker. thank you, mr. speaker. would my right honorable friend the prime minister take the opportunity to assure my constituents that planning

circular '01, '06 will be scraped in the future and traveling communities will then be treated in the same way as settled communities with regard to planning laws? >> i'm not fully up-to-date with that particular planning circular but what i can reassure is as i've said here before is that travel communities should be treated in similar ways in other communities in that you cannot have planning commission granted when you haven't obeyed the laws. that's not right and everyone should obey the law. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i wrote the prime minister about my constituent scott shaird. scott suffered severe brain damage when he was assaulted in july and he needs a wheelchair when he goes home. will the prime minister join me in welcoming the good news that his wheelchair will be ready next week? and will he intervene to help others who have been on the waiting list for wheelchairs for far too long? >> yes, i'm certainly happy to

do that. and i think the honorable gentleman makes an extremely important point. mp's of all parties and all parts of this house and anyone who tried to get a wheelchair for anybody will know that the delays and the lack of choice and the lack of power people have is incredibly frustrating. i think it must be possible in this day and age to actually put more power in the patients's or the parents hand better choice and faster wheelchairs -- faster. sorry. we get the wheelchairs a bit faster. [laughter] >> thank you. >> andrew griffths? >> with ministers taking 5% pay cuts and departments are facing a reduction of 19%, does the prime minister share my dismay that the labour party are to receive an extra million pounds of taxpayers money, an increase of 20%? if we are all together shouldn't

they pay it back? >> my honorable friend makes a very good point. a lot of people on the opposite front bench don't seem to understand this. the taxpayer provides short money which an amount -- the amount -- the amount -- the amount that goes to labour is going up by 21%. as other departments are having to take such severe cuts. the cut in number 10 downing street 25%. i look for an offer from the party opposite. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i welcome the commitment the prime minister made two weeks ago to a new silicon is really in east london. but is it going to be like the promise to the midwives. can he tell us how many jobs he wants to see created in east london and what specific steps he and the government will be taking to make it happen? >> i think first of all, i praise the people who put together the idea of london in terms of the amount of businesses they've encouraged to

commit to going there from google and intel and others. i don't think it's right for the government to try and identify the precise number of jobs that will be created. but what you've seen is a huge level of enthusiasm, great commitment for ministers and a number of businesses committing to go into shortage and going into the olympic park where there's a fantastic space for an incubator for new businesses. and i hope that he will help us to get behind this and create what could be a silicon is really for the east end. >> karen bradley. >> thank you, mr. speaker. one of the keys of securing economic growth. is the promotion of vocational education and apprenticeships. can the prime minister assure students and staff of further education colleges such as leek college in my constituency of the government's continued commitment to this area. >> yes, absolutely we can. my right honorable friend the skill secretary, as she produced the skill strategy yesterday and, yes, we are having to make

difficult decisions and in the middle of it we are increasing the number of apprenticeships over 75,000 as well as putting more money in building the college which is vital for the future skills of our country. >> in relation to the tragic death of the ranger aaron mccormick of royal regiment and his service and others will never be forgotten and many troops from northern ireland are serving in afghanistan and elsewhere. and can i also associate my right honorable friends with this expressions of best wishes to the happy couple, the royal couple and we wish them well for the future. and hopefully they will enjoy their visit in northern ireland in due course. can i ask the prime minister on afghanistan, committee give us an update on the training and equipping the service of the

troops. >> the equipping and training of afghan soldiers and police officers is not only essential for the future of afghanistan. it's also the way in which we will be able over time to draw our own soldiers down and bring them home. we have the nato summit this weekend. that will be one of the most important issues on the agenda. i think the training mission is now being well supported. we're giving huge support but other countries are coming in behind us. in terms of the afghan army i think identity importance is improving and we have to keep working on this and make sure they have all the equipment they need. >> thank you, mr. speaker. last week warner brothers announced 100 million pounds investment in the studios in my constituency. this is very welcome as it will provide more than 600 jobs and a real boost to the local economy. would my right honorable friend confirm that the producer tax credit for the film industry which was very significant in warner brothers decision to make the investment will continue? and secondly, that the

government will consider ways -- that the government will consider ways to get british investors to invest in british films made here so that the profits remain in this country? >> i think my honorable friend makes a extremely good point. we are committed to supporting the film industry and we are continuing with the tax credits that he speaks about. i think one of the keys to warner's success in his constituency is the harry potter film franchise that they've been making. it's been incredibly successful and there's a great tip and key to filmmakers which is we got to make films that people want to watch and films that will have a benefit among themselves and they encourage people to come and visit our country. >> tony lloyd. >> thank you, mr. speaker. can the prime minister be very precise and tell the house whether he's honestly saying that if 1 in 4 police officers are taken out of greater manchester with 1 in 4 of the police police officers that this will have no impact of deterring and detecting crime?

and if he will say that, will he come to manchester and explain it. it's still a major issue. >> what i would say to my -- the honorable gentleman is first we got the steve constable saying we've been working for some time on plans to ensure the force provides the most efficient service and the maximum resources are focused on front line policing. and then when you look at the figures for how few police officers really spend their time on the beat because of the paperwork, because of the form-filling then when you look at how we're managing our police forces and you look at the numbers in human resources, in finance, i.t. and training, i say we've got to do better than this. that is a choice. you can either just say all reductions in public spending are a disaster and we can't deal with them or we got to try and find a way to get more for less. that's what we're doing in this coalition government. the opposition just aren't engaged in the debate. >> mr. malcolm bruce. >> thank you, mr. speaker. would the prime minister agree with me as a international trading nation and a lead in

international development is vital that we can attract key people around the world for short and long-term stays. how is the government finalizing the criteria for the visa and immigration cap to end the uncertainty which could damage investment in the u.k. as the preferred location? >> well, i can tell my right honorable friend at that we are on this issue. we're working on this issue and i don't think there will be anticipate difficulties in achieving the two goals we have. one is to get the immigration system that we inherited under control. the current level of net immigration into the u.k. of 200,000 a year, 2 million over a decade is too high. it needs to be brought down. but we should do that in a way that is business-friendly and helpful to the economy. and when you look at the rules that we inherited and the fact that people were coming into this country under tier 1 but often had no skills at all, or were not working in skilled jobs, some of them actually working in pizza restaurants, it wasn't working properly.