c-span2. >> i can certainly confirm that we expect all companies and individuals to pay the tax they owe in the countries where it falls do and there's a lot of work now going on particularly with the g20 development action plan and the global tax transparency precisely to address the issues that the lady rightly highlights which we now must seek to make the most effective ways of tackling. >> order, questions to the prime minister. jackie doyle price. >> here, here. >> moving along, mr. speaker. [laughter] >> thank you, mr. speaker. i'm sure the whole house will wish to join me in paying tribute to major matthews collins and mark bergen from first battalion the irish

guards. they died in afghanistan last wednesday after their vehicle was caught in a blast from an ied. they were both hugely respected, passionate, and dedicated soldiers and they will be greatly missed our thoughts and deepest condolences should be with their family, friends and condolences. mr. speaker i had meetings with ministers and i shall have further such meetings today. >> jackie doyle price. >> i would also like to pay tribute to our fallen heroes and i'm sure i speak to the members of the house when we talk about our brave forces at this time. here, here >> was the prime minister aware there are fourteen minutes opposite who signed an early day motion congratulating u.k. despite that organization's refusal to condemn saturday's violence will he join me and urge them to withdraw their names? >> i thank the honorable lady for her question.

first of all, i think we should be absolutely clear the scenes of london of property, shops, and livelihoods being destroyed was perfectly unacceptable and the police should have our full support in the way they police the march and the action they took. i do think it's important for people to understand that u.k. uncut refused to condemn this violence and members opposite should remain their names from their early day motion. >> ed miliband. >> mr. speaker, can i join the prime minister in paying tribute to major matthews collins and lance charge and all of our thoughts are with their family and friends. can i start by asking the prime minister about the ongoing situation in libya and in particular can he tell the house what is his policy on armed and dangerous the rebels? >> can i thank the right honorable gentleman for his question and perhaps on starting perhaps on everyone on the house

i can say their wedding forthcoming. in terms of the situation on the frowned, what i can report, obviously, it is a extremely fluid situation there's no doubt in anyone's mind the ceasefire is sill being breached and it's absolutely right for us to keep up our pressure under u.n. security council 1973. i can confirm to the house that the coalition took action yesterday against regime forces harassing civilian vessels trying to get into misurata and yesterday overnight the raf threw 24 sorties, tornado destroying artillery. he asked the question about arming the rebels i said about the house that we have to take care of the security relations. the arms embargo applies to the whole territory of libya. but at the same time it allows all necessary measures to

protect civilians and civilian populated areas and our view this would not necessarily root out the provision of assistance to those protecting civilians in certain circumstances. so as i've told the house before we do not rule it out but we have not taken the decision to do so. >> ed miliband. >> well, can i thank the prime minister and i'm sure it will be given to his statement and can i thank his kind wishes and for my forthcoming wedding. i'm very much looking forward to him. i may be coming to him mr. speaker in the next couple nights on staying nights because i know he knows how to organize memorable stag nights. >> let me turn to a different issue, mr. speaker, which is the issue of tuition fees. the prime minister said that universities will only charge 9,000-pound tuition fees in exceptional circumstances. can the prime minister tell the

house of the 23 universities who have announced their plans, how many will planning to charge 9 to you. >> i'm sure there will be a free exchange of advice. when i was leader of the opposition i would have done anything to have a honeymoon and he probably feels the same way. [laughter] >> we do -- we do wish him well. [laughter] >> in terms of tuition fees, obviously, the point about 9,000 is well made. the universities can only charge 9,000 if they go through a number of steps to prove that they really are improving access to universities. i don't have the figures available. but i'm very happy to give them to him. >> dave miliband. >> mr. speaker, this is an important point because the prime minister reassured people when he was selling his tuition fees policy and it was in his own words that it will be a basic threshold of 6,000 pounds in exceptional circumstances, some universities will be allowed to charge 9,000 pounds.

well, of the 23 universities have announced their fees, 18, that's more than 80% are planning to charge 9,000 pounds. it's not the exception. it's the rule. now, i'm afraid -- i'm afraid not for the first time, mr. speaker, this policy has not been implemented in a competent way. now, the next problem that he faces in relation to this policy is it will cost the treasury more money to fund the loans. can he guarantee that money will not come from university budgets or through a reduction in student numbers? >> well, first of all, it is worth reminding the house university tuition fees were first introduced by the party opposite. the point i'd make is there are two important points on this threshold. first of all, each university will have to spend 900 pounds per place on access requirements. that's the first point. the second point is it is the office of access that will decide whether or not they can go to that 9,000 threshold and

very tough -- very tough rules have been published and placed in this house for people to see. in terms of the additional revenue -- the additional money that will go into higher education, he's absolutely right. because of the system we're introducing we will actually be spending more overall on universities. that's right. but the key is this. that because of the reductions in spending, we're having to make elsewhere, this is the only way to fainter we have well-funded universities, well-stocked libraries, well-paid lecturers and good universities to take on the world. >> mr. speaker, i was just asking a very simple question which is where is the money going to come from given they've miscalculated the level of tuition fees. universities up and down the country are worried that this prime minister doesn't think an 80% cut in the teaching budget is enough and they're going to come back for more. now, let me turn to another area of public services which i don't think the government is getting quite right and that is in in

relation is policing. the prime minister was asked 8 times whether the number of front line police officers will fall. can i ask the prime minister, will there be fewer front line police officers in the years ahead? >> well, according to home office statistics, if all forces achieve the current test average for visibility and availability, that would increase the number of offices available by 8,000. >> dave miliband. >> mr. speaker, mr. speaker, i don't think people will even understand what that answer was supposed to mean, frankly. [laughter] >> because -- because he should listen to the chief inspector of lacks. we can't leave the front line untouched and that is because of the scale of the cuts. and also 2,000 police officers are being forced out under the a-19 rule. sergeant dave hewitt. i will be walking away on the force, unfortunately, not through choice as far as i'm concerned i'm still young and i

wanted to continue being a neighborhood sergeant. that sounds like a front line police officer to me. >> yeah. >> can i ask the prime minister the same question. does he expect there to be fewer front line police officers in the years ahead? yes or no? >> there is no reason why there should be fewer front line officers. no, mr. speaker. both parties -- both parties agree that the police budget has to be cut. i heard the shadow chancellor say we would have made cuts to policing. they would have cut policing. we have to cut the policing budget. the question is, how do you make those cuts? we say you got to freeze police pay for two years. you got to reform police announces. you got to cut their paperwork. because you oppose all of those things you would have to make deeper cuts in police numbers. that is the case. >> dave miliband. >> mr. speaker, it's very simple we propose 12% cuts in the policing budget. he's proposing 20% cuts.

an hmi says if you cut there will be cuts of front line officers and that's what's happening up and down. mr. speaker, he used to claim he was the party of law and order but now he is cutting the number of police officers up and down the country. it's the wrong choice for the police. it's the wrong choice for communities and it's a wrong choice for the country as well. >> not that the first time he is the gentleman is wrong. a 12% reduction than what we are proposing is a free of police pay and the reform of police allowances that he refuses to support and i have to say has anyone seen a more ridiculous spectacle than the right honorable gentleman marching against the cuts that it was his government that caused. i know. i know martin luther king said he had a dream. i think it's time the honorable gentleman woke up.

>> sarah newton. >> the prime minister will really appreciate the high regard the coast guard serves on all around the u.k. and i'm very reassured that the minister has said that the current modernization proposals are not a done deal. does the prime minister agree with them that it's very important to get the plans right? >> i absolutely agree with the honorable lady and is an mp and the whole of house would want me to feel for our colleague -- or the honorable member of southeast corn wall who lost her husband in a tragic fishing accident and it demonstrates these extraordinary risk these people in our coastal communities take. and our hearts should go out to her and her family. obviously, we should make changes only if they approve the level of coast guard support that people in fishing communities get. that is what the reforms are good.

trying to make sure the real impetus is on the front line and if that isn't the case then obviously we'll to have reconsider those reforms. that's why they're being reviewed and i would say to everyone who cares about this issue, work with us to make sure we get the maximum amount in those lifeboats and other ways of helping our fishing and other communities. >> thank you, mr. speaker. does the prime minister acknowledge the serious concerns that have been raised about the adverse implications on complications for cancer patients under the proposals and the welfare reform bill for replacing dla with personal independence payments? and will he, therefore, faith with ministers the keys for creating a straightforward cancer care and sport alliance which would be available to those who would diagnosed with guarantee or undergoing or awaiting treatment? >> we will look very carefully as the government medical advisor is about dls and its

interaction with people that have cancer but i think everyone on all sides of the house should recognize that dla does need reform. the fact is there are 130,000 people on dla who have not had a claim revived at all since the bill was introduced in 1992. there are three-quarters from the people who had a claim and there are 21,000 people of working age getting dla because they're on drink or drugs so there really is reform necessary but making sure we assess people with cancer is definitely part of that reform. >> mr. speaker, can i congratulate the prime minister on what appears to be a very successful conference on libya? could i ask the prime minister what measures have been taken to ensure that we can expand the coalition of countries taking part in action to include regional 'cause this is vital if we have to maintain regional support? >> well, i thank the honorable gentleman for his question.

it was a successful conference yesterday. my right honorable friend will make a statement about it later. wide representation from the middle eastern world and about enforcing u.n. security council resolution 1973. and there also was new support in terms of actually equipment from including the swedes who are making eight aircraft available. so i think we are on track. there's very strong support for what's being done but we need to keep up the support particularly in the arab world. >> thank you, mr. speaker. families who have lost their jobs have been able to apply for emergency loans to tied them over. so why when unemployment is a 17-year high and restricted to get worse does information leaked to me that the government is planning to cut this funding tomorrow and why just like the cuts last year was this not asked in the budget? >> of what we are doing is putting in place is the biggest

and boldest plans since the great depression. and i would say to the honorable gentleman we should be working with us to make sure he can help including those in his constituency. >> thank you, mr. speaker. taking into account the high levels of deprivation in my constitutity coupled with the unrivaled potential of these the coast for creating jobs in the offshore energy sector does the prime minister agree with me that these prospects would be significantly boosted by the creation of an break prize? >> the honorable gentleman makes a great place for an enter zone. clearly, there is a case for colleagues to make that for more. i think there are real strengths in his areas in green tech jobs he's supporting and i'm sure the chancellor in the message he gives. >> there are dozens of families in my constituency in north

belfast who will be put out of their homes overnight as a result of terrorist activity. the latest in a long line of such incidents in northern ireland recently. will the prime minister join with me in condemning this terrorist activity and as well as supporting the police and the army with resources? would the prime minister agree as we approach the assembly elections in a few weeks time and the full stable devolution in northern ireland for generations. the best answer we can give to these people reject their poles and drag us back to the past and keep northern ireland moving forward. >> i think the honorable gentleman suppose on all sides of the house. first of all, we have to be externally vigilant against terrorists in northern ireland and else and we should do that and he knows the british government will give the northern ireland the support we can. but secondly the best proof of succeeds and there is a nonviolent path is so show the

success of our democratic institutions as he and his colleagues in northern ireland have done. >> yesterday, counsel is on the joint health overview and scrutiny committee were told by senior doctors that if leeds loses its children's heart surgery unit then transfers would be unsafe and could prove fatal. given that the reporting of the review of the children heart unit commissioned of the last government contains factual errors and there's a question over the impartiality of the board who made the final recommendations. would the prime minister agree to halt the cross and does he think the only option is judicial review? >> well, the honorable gentleman is absolutely right to speak up for his constituency which could be affected by this review as indeed could my constituency be affected by this review. and we want to make sure that review is as transparent as possible and is involved and engaged with parents and with everyone in guarantees but i would say this. i think there are many times when rather bogus arguments are

put forward for specialization in the nhs but i think in a very complicated case like child heart surgery there are cases for specialization and as passionately we want to defend our own heart hospitals we have to think about clinical safety and what's best for children. so he's absolutely right to speak up for his hospital as i am for the one that serves my stitch si but i think we have to have some understanding of the complexity in what we're dealing with. >> thank you, mr. speaker. does the prime minister understand that unilaterally setting the minimum price for carbon in britain would drive in ward investors out because carbon trading by its very nature requires a common price not a unilar price and we need to spend that price and send his chancellor to the eu and negotiate a common price so that we have a level playing field for investment. >> i respect the gentleman's view. i don't agree him. i think the steps taken in the

budget are right. and i think we should judge companies like tarrer by what they've making. and they are putting more investment in the u.k. and if we take obviously the case of red car which closed under the last government it's going to be re-opening in part because of the reinvestment. of course, i listen to the honorable gentleman but i think he knows a bit more about his business than he does. >> mr. speaker, my statue jeff jacobs is in parliament to remind us it is the most common cancer in men. many dying each year of this disease, does the prime minister have a dream of better outcomes for the increasing investment in nhs? >> i think the honorable gentleman is absolutely right to raise this issue. and he's right. it is both a dream you have but it's a nightmare for many people in this country the fact that

prostate cancer is such a massive killer and we really need to do something about it. that means better early diagnosis, better testing, better access to drugs. all of those things are contained in the plans of the nhs. >> thank you very much, mr. speaker. the prime minister will be aware of the large number of women across the u.k. including a number in my constituency are female and in their late 50s, 509 on low incomes. you will be aware it will affect betweensome 2.9 million. many of them having to wait two years and as a result will lose up -- these are usually people in low incomes and marginalized economies. can i ask the prime minister if he intends to put in place any measures to cushion the severe effects of these people on low income and their stretched financial circumstances? >> the honorable gentleman makes an important point and, of course, the change in the pension age and the equalization of the pension age does ask

people to work for longer in their lives. it is a big change and i think people are living longer it's right that we make this change to make sure we can have a good and strong and affordable pension system for the future and the biggest thing we're doing is linking the pension to earnings rather than prices which means someone retiring today will get 15,000 pounds more over the next period than they would have done under the old plan. one is partly to pay for the other. >> thank you, mr. speaker. and the last government left us 1 in 5 young people unemployed does my honorable friend the new university technical schools will help transform the lives of young people and our matter of social justice as well as economic efficiency and will he support lord baker in supporting the area -- >> okay. >> the prime minister. the honorable gentleman is absolutely right to speak up for harlow and for university technical colleges and i think

are going to be a great innovati innovation in our country and i want to lord baker and the education secretary and the chancellor who put extra money in the budget so he can have 21 of these universities opening in our areas. >> part of the nhs budget would increase in real terms in each year. since the spending review, inflation is spiraling very high. and we're now face ago real terms cut of a billion pounds for the nhs. what is the prime minister going to do about that? >> well, we said nhs spending would increase in real terms each year and it will. >> here, here. >> as we approach good friday, we might reflect on the role of pontius pilot. with that in mind, would my right honorable friend reassure the house that he will never

address crowds in high pop corner protesting about reductions in spending if he had been responsible for the economic mess which was the result of the reductions in the first place. >> my honorable friend puts it from me well. far from standing on the shoulders of the suffragettes or whatever nonsense we heard over the weekend. the right honorable gentleman is setting in a great big pool of debt of his creation and he has absolutely no idea what to do about it. >> aaron jones. >> in 2009, the prime minister promised families with disabled children in his own words a crack team of medical experts, doctors, nurse to act as a one stop shop to assess families and get them the help they need. kethe house how many of these teams have been set up? >> what i can tell the honorable lady and it was very much something based on -- based on

my own experience of having repeated assessments, when you're trying to get help and benefits and social work is that in the special educational needs green paper, that precise idea is rapidly becoming government policy. >> caroline dinage. >> thank you, mr. speaker. despite some local unhelpful party political mischief-making about the future of our valuable sure start services, would the prime minister join me in welcoming hampshire county council's proposals to protect front line sure short services while saving money money by cutting back-office costs. >> the honorable lady is absolutely right. and the key of sure start has said there is money in the available to keep sure start open. that money is not being reduced. >> mr. chris williamson? >> thank you mr. speaker. on the 24th of march, last year, before the general election the prime minister has accused me of

distributing inaccurate information about conservative plans for the winter fuel allowance. it turns out i was right and he was long unless he will overrule his chancellor will he take the opportunity to apologize for the -- >> yeah. >> and apologize to me for his unfair -- >> i can't believe i accused him of anything because i had absolutely no idea who he was. [laughter] >> but while we're at it we promised we would keep the winter fuel payments. we kept the winter fuel payments. we promised we would keep the kept weather payments. we kept the cold weather payments. we said we'd keep the bus passes the tv licenses. we did all of those things, and yes, he did mislead the lecters of the election. >> queen's award winning grammy

winning prodrive and global warming winning cgt are all manufacturing businesses operating in ban bury and they are doing so well that they want to move into larger premises but they also have immediate school vacancies that they need to fill what collectively can we do to try to ensure people who are unemployed in the country who have skills know of the skills they -- >> we do have other people to accommodate. the prime minister? >> i think the honorable gentleman is right to raise this issue. and they are not interested in manufacturing and in skills and in technology and in making sure we expand those things. we're going to have 250,000 apprenticeships over this parliament. we're going to have the university technical colleges that will make a difference and it's very good news to hear about the expansion of manufacturing in his constituency. >> yvonne? >> thank you, mr. speaker. the welfare reform bill proposes to introduce a 50-pound civil

penalty. the claimant whose make a mistake in completing the application form. at the same time, as this is introduced, agencies state they are facing a public storm of cuts and they won't be in existence in completing these forms. does the prime minister think this is fair? >> well, i'll make two points to the honorable lady. first of all, it is fair that the government in terms of the money it puts in the citizens of ice bureau is not cutting that money for exactly the reason that she gives and i would urge what my local council has done to find services and bureaucracy to give money -- the point she makes about fines for people who misclaim benefits i'm afraid to say i don't think it's right. there's far too much in our system that has lost from fraud and loss from error and i don't think the taxpayers go to work and work hard in order to fund people for benefits that they're

not entitled to. >> can i urge my right honorable friend to display extreme caution in the matter of supply of arms to the so-called rebels in libya. the legal position is by no means clear as his previous answer to the leader of the opposition made eloquently obvious. in addition to that, the political consequences of doing so, particularly among those nearly 40 countries that were represented at the successful conference in london yesterday is very difficult to predict. >> my right honorable friend is absolutely right to be cautious and skeptical. and i think this is a decision we should consider with huge care. and as i've said, while the legal position i think is clearer, i think there are some very strong arguments like his we'd to have listen to. what i would say to him, though, is yesterday i met mr. jabril of the interim national transition council and those who are forming an alternative

government in benghazi, they do want it to be interim. they want it to be transitional. they are democrats. they are not tribal and they want to see a future for the whole of libya where the people have a choice over how they're governed. and i was -- i was encouraged by what i heard. >> thank you, mr. speaker. last week i had the privilege of meeting a group of 25 women currently studying on courses. they shared the prime minister's desire as i do that every migrant in the u.k. speaks the language of their new home. given the prime minister's belief that the practical things can make a big difference to community cohesion, will he commit today to putting a stop to this government's shortsighted cuts to english-language causes? >> well, i have to say to the honorable lady we are going to have to take some difficult decisions over student numbers and i think the priorities should be to make sure that our universities can go on attracting the best t