>> on the future clearly lies with the private sector. can the minister, therefore, give some indication how much scottish businesses will save from the government's changes to the employers national insurance threshold and rate and how many businesses will benefit from the payment holiday for new businesses? >> my honorable friend is right to point to reduce the tax burden. we estimate it will bring a

benefit of 280 million pounds to businesses if scotland or the equivalent of helping 59,000 jobs. >> order. questions for the prime minister. ian? >> number one, mr. speaker. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i'm sure the whole house will wish to join me in paying tribute to lance corporal liam tasker from the royal army veterinary core who died the first of march. the whole country has been touched by the story of this true hero who worked with his search dog theo locating improvised explosive devices weapons and bomb-making equipment to save many, many lives. he will not be forgotten and our deepest condolences should be with his family, his friends and his colleagues. mr. speaker, this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and in addition to my duties in this house i shall have further such meetings in the house today. >> mr. speaker, i'm sure that the whole house will join in passing on the condolences of the family and friends of our

foreign service personnel. mr. speaker, the prime minister will be aware that today is no smoking today. will he join me in graduating the organizers that takes place this evening in my constituency. it's a part of the statue si which is completely blighted by the addiction. will he comment on the british lung association that children across the u.k. have been exposed to cigarette smoke in cars and 86% of children -- >> we've got the drift. the prime minister. the prime minister. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i certainly support no smoking day and like previous years i hope to meet its requirements in full. the thing about smoking none of children and babies in cars, whatever people have done in the past the facts show people really should change their behavior. i'm not sure whether it's

possible to legislate in this area. with a change of attitudes and you think he is leading that with the british lung foundation and others. >> steven phillips. >> thank you, mr. speaker. given that yesterday was international women's day, but today we also have great trade figures and growth that was announced, could the prime minister tell me if he agrees with me that we would have even better figures if we managed to get more women on board and companies across the united kingdom? >> i think the honorable lady is absolutely right and to draw attention in figures which shows a big that increase in trade exports and i think it's absolutely right we need to get more women involved in the work force, in the board level and also in terms of entrepreneurialism. if we had the same rate of women setting up small businesses here as in america we would have tens of thousands of extras businesses creating wealth and

jobs. >> dave milliband. >> mr. speaker, can i start by paying tribute to lance corporal liam tasker from the royal army veterinary corps. he was doing a job that put him in such danger and he showed extraordinary bravery and courage. we remember him and we pass on deep condolences to family and friends. mr. speaker, can the prime minister tell who passed the anything else benefit ghazi? >> let me say very clearly -- let me say very clear i take full responsibility everything that my government does. >> dave miliband. >> mr. speaker, i'm grateful for him saying that and i want to support him on libya wherever i can. by do say to him there is increasing concern about the government's competence on the issue of libya. we've had the flights feas cho we had talk of colonel gadhafi heading to venezuela when he

wasn't. we had overblown briefing about potential military action. and we had the setback last weekend. mr. speaker, does the prime minister think it's just a problem with the foreign secretary or is there a wider problem in his government? >> i'm not sure i particularly want to take a lecture about labour about dealing with gadhafi and dealing with libya. i think the first thing we should have from the labour party when it comes to libya, gadhafi and the release of magahe. we have led the way of getting tough sanctionss on libya and we have led the way of libya getting thrown out of the council. and we have led the way to making sure the world is ready for every eventuality.

>> and there is an issue of competence, mr. speaker, at the heart of this government. i want to turn to another example of incompetence. does the prime minister think people will notice the loss of 12,000 front line police officers? >> first of all, he raises the issue of the foreign secretary. let me tell you i think we have an excellent foreign secretary. and when it comes to it, there's only one person i can remember recognizing a foreign secretary. and i think i'm looking at him. >> right. i think we dealt with that that. right. on the issue, we want to see police on the streets fighting crime not stuck behind their desks fighting paper. that is what we want to achieve. and let me say to the honorable

member whoever was standing here right now would have to be reducing the home office budget and the policing budget. labour was committed to a 1.3 billion cut. the question is not are you reducing the budget, the question is to cut the paperwork to make sure the police are on the streets? >> i have to say, mr. speaker, the more he brings my relatives into this argument the more you know he's losing the argument. let me just say i have a second cousin in belgium he'll be going after next, i'm sure. now, on the question of crime, he says he wants to improve front line policing, but the west midlands are losing thousands of officers. bedford shire has scaled back

gun license checks and those companies burgled they will be sent fingerprint that kits but solving your own crimes is a bit ridiculous even by his own standards. you have to ask, mr. speaker, does the prime minister have a clue what's going on there? >> i think everybody is getting a little bit touchy about this issue. the point i make, if you listen to what chief constables are saying about what they want to do -- well, let me -- right. here is the chief constable of the thames valley. what i haven't done is reduce the number of officers who do patrol options on when you see them we haven't cut those numbers at all. if you look to the chief superintendent in surrey, he says we are determined to increase our front line capability by recruiting extra police constables. the fact is all of the leadership of the is engaged in

the exercise of keeping costs under control to make sure we get more officers on the beat. now, whether we have to divert to protect his relatives, i don't know. but they're going to be on the beat. >> at the point months, mr. speaker, and so out of touch with people up and down this country. he talks about police officers. in case he hadn't noticed, it's the association of chief police officers who say that 12,000 front line police officers are going to be lost and why are they being lost? because he chose to go beyond the hmic recommendation of 12% cuts. if he made 12% cuts, they could have found the savings from the back office. it's because he went too far and fast and insisted -- and insisted on 20% cuts in policing. >> well, he's wrong. the association of the chief police officers and he's simply wrong about that that.

let me remind him what his home affairs spokesman and he was asked can you guarantee if you form the next government the police numbers won't fall, allen johnson, for. that was the position. and he said after the election, this is what he said, if labour had won the general election, the home office budget would have been cut and the police would have had to make savings. what we say today is once again jumping on a band wagon, total opportunity. he's got no plans to reform welfare and no plans on the nhs and nothing to say about policing. . >> mr. speaker, we know the government is out of touch and now we know -- and now we know it's incompetent as well. incompetent on libya and incompetent on policing. the prime minister may act like he's born to rule but the rule but the truth is he's not very good at it. >> the usual prescripted

questions he dreamt up earlier. the fact is, has he got a reform plan for the nhs? no. has he got a plan to cut deficit? no wonder going back to the former foreign secretary -- no wonder the former foreign secretary has just said this, the left is losing elections on an unprecedented scale because it's lost control of the political agenda. it's losing key arguments and it has a deficit in ideas. that's what he said and he's absolutely right. >> thank you, mr. speaker, would my right honorable friend join me in graduating the people of suffolk who less than a year have raised 3 million pounds to build a new children's hospice. children coming together and supporting a local project that really makes a difference and

supported. >> the honorable lady is absolutely right and i know that members right across this house back the hospice movement both hospices for adults and hospices for children. the government has put in extra money into hospices but it's great example of the big society where people come together and make sure there is real provision to look after those who need it most. >> angus mcneal. >> thank you very much, mr. speaker. the coast guard stations have been treated badly and are threatening to close stations. any risk assessment whatsoever. the proposed savings won't highlight the comprehensive spending review compared to the huge risk. will the prime minister ensure ireland are protected by saving their stations as the campaign says s.o.s. >> i will look at this issue carefully because it is being raised by members in the house. it's not about the u.k.'s front line rescue capable. it's about how the coast guard service coordinates service and rescue missions.

so it's all about the aim of the consultation is to get the resources on the front line to those people who actually are carrying out the rescues and those people in the voluntary sector who are helping. that's what the consultation is about and i would urge him to engage in the process. >> neil carmichael. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the alternative folks system is unfair, expensive and discredited. even members of the support team for the yes side don't really want it. so what is the prime minister going to do to make sure that we defeat this system because it can produce distorted outcomes? >> well, i thank my honorable friend for this question. i will be campaigning hard, mr. speaker, for a no vote in the referendum. i think it's a relatively argument to make. we have a system that is simple that is clear that is easy to explain and the alternative vote is only news three countries that is australia and fiji and

people in the coalition will be able to make those arguments. >> questions on the 27th of october had the prime minister agreed that ministers would work with our leading children's charities on an affordable child's trust fund to look after children and i can confirm that since then the financial secretary and the children's ministry work constructively on this issue. it's good to turn this into action and today bernardo is in action published a new report which sets out a compelling case for a new system of saving accounts for children in care. i know the prime minister wants to do more with children in care. will he read this and will he confirm that provision in this will be made in the budget? >> thank you. i will certainly read the pamphlet the honorable gentleman has if he leaves me a copy. we are looking at the issue whether we could replace these funds particularly for children in care with some form of child issa and i hope the chairman

will have something to say about it in the government. >> the government's principal government is to cut the eye watering deficit we have inherited from the previous government yet we want to support people on low and middle incomes. can the prime minister confirm how many people will see their -- >> order! order! order! i apologize for having to interrupt. members must be heard in asking their questions and the prime minister must be heard in completed. i think the honorable gentleman has completed his question and we're grateful to him. >> the truth is, mr. speaker, members opposite don't like being reminded of the massive deficit and the huge mess that they left this government to clear up. but my honorable friend makes a good point. in spite of difficult decisions we will be lifting the tax threshold for income taxpayers which will benefit -- 880,000 people will be removed from income tax all together that is

a major step forward, a big help with the cost of living and will be welcome to families up and down the country. >> gloria? >> mr. speaker, many parents in my constituency are worried sick there's a number of school services are going to withdrawn with no guarantee of an equivalent timetables and there's discretionary funding. and what is the prime minister doing that families are not doing to get fare hikes to get the children to school. >> it was one of the difficult decisions to make in the per pupil funding that is in place is not going down. it's being maintained. that did mean difficult decision elsewhere in the budget but we took that decision for the good of the country's school children. >> do the prime minister and the chancellor recognize the severe impact of exceptionally high petro and diesel prices in rural areas where price send to be 5 to 10p higher a liter than in the cities where people have long distances to travel to work

and where public transport is very limited. may we hope for some relief in the budget? >> well, my honorable friend makes an important point. the argument has been made about high fuel costs and we're listening to that very carefully and you'll have to wait for the budget on that. on the issue of prices in terms of heating oil, i know that this is also a big issue in rural areas like the one he represents and indeed the one i represent. we have asked them to look at this area but i would make the additional payment we maintained them at 25 pounds and 420 million pounds has been met helping people with their heating bills. >> mr. david winick. >> no doubt gadhafi is using arms sold to him by british companies. would the prime minister now -- would the prime minister give an assurance of the house today that no military action will be taken as regards to libya without direction authorization

from the united nations security council? >> first of all, what i discussed last night with president obama is making sure we plan for every eventuality including planning for a no-fly zone and everyone would want, if this does become necessary, would have the widest possible backing and that is why we're drafting a u.n. security council that plan and i think that's the thing to do. >> thank you, mr. speaker. it's no secret that council tax doubled under the last government. in my constituency, both local councils sell the district are freezing council tax this year. can the prime minister tell me and the house how many other councils have chosen to help hard-pressed council taxpayers? >> well, i'm delighted to say a huge number of councils have done it. i think it was right to announce a freezing council tax. it will bring real help to households in the family saving the average family up to 72 pounds a year at a time when

they face difficulties with the cost of living and it does compare as he said with a double of the council tax in the last government. and in terms of whether they learned any lessons of that. labour's shadow local government minister attacked this freeze as nothing more than a gimmick and yet this is bringing relief to hard-pressed families up and down our country and it's absolutely the right policy. >> thank you, mr. speaker. is the prime minister aware of a commitment in the program for government of the coalition government which is taking office in dublin today to move to a system for organ donation? and as well as whatever consideration his government may give to that proposal will he undertake to work with all other administrations in these islands to the the british council and to increase the number of organ donors and increase donor organizations and transplant services for people who need that live saving and live changing snipes

>> i think it's important we try to increase the number of organ donation. and there's a debate whether we should move formally to an opt-out situation but i think there's a huge gap between where we are now and a formal optout in terms of encouraging and talking about patients what can be done and i'm sure we can make steps forward and my right honorable friend the health secretary will do that. >> mr. speaker, 373,000 daily express readers wanted. 80% of conservative members supported. the deputy prime minister would love it. and my wife demands it. [laughter] >> the british people, conservative supporters, the leader of the liberal party and especially mrs. bone cannot all be wrong. prime minister can we have a referendum whether the united

kingdom remains in the european union? >> i wish my wife was as easy to please. [laughter] >> i was worried about where that was going. i'm afraid i'm going to have to disappoint the honorable gentleman and mrs. bone. i think we are better off inside the e.u. but making changes to it in the way we're setting out. >> thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, there are 1.5 million individuals throughout the u.k. who suffer from involuntary tranquilizer addiction which is not a misuse of drugs by an individual but prescription addiction and it has side effects. can the prime minister ensure that special withdrawal programs are set up across the country to give these people their lives back. and i understand the government in reviewing this situation -- these are victims of the system

and they're suffering all the time. >> the honorable gentleman has raised this and raised this with me before and i think he speaks very powerfully on behalf of these people who have this addiction, which is an extreme problem in our country. we published our drug strategy which did actually set out an ambition for reducing drug use including prescription and over the counter medicines and i'm sure that should include programs to help people withdrawal and get off these drugs but i think we have to deal with the problem in source and this is part of what our health reforms is about is trying to make sure that the health services about the health of the whole person rather than a national drug service and where too much prescription of drugs can sometimes take place. >> thank you, mr. speaker, the german company stock u.k. which owns that makes chocolates in winchester in my constituency are consulting on plans which could see production move to germany. now, 115 jobs in the local area that i represent are dependent on this factory. will the prime minister ask his

ministers in the relevant department to meet with me and representatives from the companies as soon as possible to see if we can help? >> i will certainly do that and my right honorable friend is right to speak up on his constituency. we will take steps to ensure that this country is the best place in europe to do best. we have set out plans for the lowest rate of corporation tax anywhere in the g7 and we are taking further steps to help make sure that have companies come here, stay here and to invest here. >> mr. speaker, the prime minister is beefing up his office to help sell the government some 2 billion pounds of reorganization of the nhh the baroness is out obligated for outside of europe. nobody wants this. so is it not possible for -- >> we got the drift of it but we must have an answer, mr. speaker? >> the questions they draft have

gotten a bit long. i think the labour whips need to go to writing school. if they're asking a question about the nhs and i think he was and asking who supports the nhs reforms i think one of the greatest propenalties of the nhs reforms is labour's health secretary. he said this, the general aims of the roles are sound, more investment of patients, less bureaucracy and less priorities in improving health outcomes. these are common grounds, health professionals and political parties. if life gets too tough for him there's always plenty of room of him over here. >> thank you, mr. speaker. >> many are deploying to afghanistan and our thoughts and prayers are with them. will the prime minister ensure that if our brave soldiers are injured serving our country they receive compensation that recognizes their sacrifice?

>> well, my honorable friend makes a very important point and the bravery of our service men and women who are deploying to afghanistan often now for the third or fourth time should be uppermost in our thoughts and i think this is something which the whole how soon can unite on which is the results of the armed compensation team will lead to significant increases in the value of awards an increase which is in excessive 25% to all lump sum payments. this is the top award which was recently doubled to 570,000 pounds and we're tripling the maximum award for mental illness to 140,000 pounds. you can never compensate people for their injuries either physical or mental in battle. but we can, i think, as a generous and tolerant and warm welcoming to our nation. >> does the prime minister appreciate that the 15. 00 women in newport who are going to have to work two years longer because of the government

has accelerated the state's pension aid feel very angry that they're not being given long enough to plan properly for a length of time. >> well, i would say to the honorable ladies i know this is a difficult reform. but as well as actually dealing with the short term problems of our deficit and making spending reductions across government programs which frankly any government would have to do right now, i think it's also right to try and make some long-term changes to reduce long-term costs of our pension system. and as life expectancy is increasing, it is right, i think, to ask people to retire later. it's a difficult decision. it's a long-term decision but i think the arguments for it are absolutely right. >> would my right honorable friend join me in welcoming good news on jobs this morning announced by kp & g that february saw the fastest rate of permanent positions being filled for 10 months and that those jobs came from the private sector? >> well, i think the honorable lady is right to draw attention as well as the trade figures but we are engaged in a very

difficult operation to rebalance the economy which for too long was dependent on government, on housing, on finance, and, frankly, on immigration as well and we need an economy that is more based on manufacturing, on technology, on exports, on enterprise and small business and it is going to be difficult but there is good signs that the private sector economy is growing and growing well. >> thank you, last year the cab dealt with over 27,000 cases supported by 75 volunteers. yet it has a slash project and no clarity from lipton city council on its funding from the end of this month. how can this situation actually contribute toward a big society? >> well, this government has actually made sure that the national funding for c.a.b. has been mentioned in terms of its debt ceiling and i would urge whoever controls them frankly and i had the same conversation with my own local council to make sure we do as much as we can to support c.a.b. that i think do such a vital job in our

communities. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i'm sure all members of the house would agree that one of the most important jobs we have every year to go and represent people who have lost their lives in war on remembrance sunday and it's something i certainly remember with great pride in my constituency. with that in mind does the prime minister think a 50-pound fine is an appropriate punishment to those who burn posses and chant during silence. >> i think my right honorable friend would have spoken in terms of people reaction in the court case. i think to many of us you look at something like that and feel that as a country we should be making a stronger statement that that sort of behavior is completely out of order and has no place in a tolerant society. >> thank you, mr. speaker. can i take the prime minister

back to the question and ask him to look at led motion 550. today on the other paper which is challenging the whole question of the funding that's coming from the electoral reform society. i wonder if he could look at that as a firm supporter, as i am, write to me after he looks at that time and tell me there will be an investigation. >> i haven't got round 2 1550. i've been looking for the honorable gentleman and i to agree about and it's a delight to have this. i do think some people will be surprised to find what they thought was an organization running elections was funding a campaign but i think in the interest of coalition unity, i'll leave it at that. >> mr. speaker, recently i met with a number of manufacturing businesses in my constituency.