"washington times." his appearances are all kind and searchable online at the c-span video library. >> and now to london for prime minister's question time live from the british house of commons. every wednesday while parliament is in session prime minister david cameron takes questions from members of the house of commerce. this is the first question of the new year as members are returning from their holiday break this week. prior to question time the house is wrapping up other business. this is live coverage on c-span2. >> how and when will my constituents in england be consulted on this important matter? >> may i remind the minister? >> mr. speaker, the honorable gentleman constituents of the opportunity to be represented on

these issues to the audible gentlemen in this house. >> border. questions for the prime minister. mr. coyle stewart. >> mr. prime minister, thank you, mr. speaker, i'm sure the whole house will wish to join and painted it to the serviceman who have fallen in service of our country since we last met for prime ministers questions i. captain tom jennings from the royal marines, squadron leader anthony downing from the royal air force, private john king from first battalion the yorkshire regiment, and riflemen from first battalion the royal rifles. who died after a long period in hospital where he was much loved by the staff who looked after him. they are asked any courage and selflessness will never be forgotten. they have given their lives serving our country and making our world more secure. and our thoughts should with their families and their friends. >> this morning i agree with mr. of colleagues and others in addition to my dues in sales i

shall further such meetings later today be that mr. graham stuart. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the whole house will wish to associate itself with the prime minister's tribute to the fallen. can i ask the prime minister join me in congratulating country foods onto 50 million-pound investment creating a state-of-the-art facility in my constituency, license for export to the is department of agriculture from exporting throughout the e.u. and employ no more than 1200 people? here, here. >> unfortnuately, mr. speaker, the food standards agency is blocking export from this excellent plot to the parties. can the prime minister assured me that job history on this is a regulations will not be tolerated by his government? >> i serving to my honorable friend congratulating the company in his constituency further expansion of the welcome new jobs that they bring to it is my plan would balance our economy with greater emphasis on

investment, on business investment and on exports. and in terms of exports to china they went up by over 20% last year. i'm sorry do everything i can to help resolve the situation. i'm very happy to ask a minister to meet my honorable friend to discuss this issue. >> ed miliband. [shouting] >> mr. speaker, can i join the prime minister in paying tribute to captain tom jennings from the royal marines, squadron leader anthony downing from the royal air force, rather john king from first battalion, the yorkshire regiment, and riflemen from fourth, third battalion the royal rifles. all of them showed enormous courage and bravery at making sacrifices on our behalf, and our deepest condolences go to their family and friends. >> here, here. >> the chancellor said in the opening state of the drinkers

would only rise by 1% of inflation. and he therefore explained while rail companies this month some of these amateur roots have increased their fares by 11%? >> the power was given to them to do that by the last labour government. [laughter] >> ed miliband. >> know, mr. speaker. no. no, mr. speaker, no mr. speaker. the prime minister is wrong. the last, the last labour government stopped them from doing that and there's prime minister, and this prime minister when he came to office reversed that policy. that we produced. that's why, that's what the companies we are able to rig the fares. that's why so much on from north hampton to london will see a rise of over 300 pounds. will he now stand up to the train companies, get a better deal for commuters and changes policy?

>> i know the honorable gentleman has had a different start to the your. [laughter] he's made it worse by getting it wrong. labour allowed in 2009 fare increases of up to 11% because they introduce this idea reflects 5% over and above the rpi plus 1% that was against, and was in 2009 is the case today. but i think the key issue is this. there's own to places money for railways can come from. they can come from the taxpayer or it can come from the traveler. what really matters is are we going to put money into rail investment? this government is putting that money in. we are building crossrail. we are electrifying the great western main line. we are electrifying the line between manchester and liverpool. we're putting 308 billion into crossrail and, of course, as my right ottawa been announced yesterday we are building a just to as will. >> ed miliband. >> i'm afraid the prime minister is just wrong about the facts.

the last labour government saw the train company were taking advantage of consumers, ripping them off by increasing fares more on the busiest route and we started. we took away that power from them. he came to office and he brought the power back. he made a wrong decision. after his idea that this is all to help the passenger, the national office warned that the problem was this money it would result in increased train operating company profit. i ask him again, mr. speaker, will he now go back and reverse his policy? >> we are rigidly set out and rpi plus three policy, 3% policy for drinkers. we found money in to reduce that rpi plus 1%. but i have to say, if he wants to see more money, go into our railways, presumably he supports the electrification of the great western main line. he supports the electrification of the railway lines in the

northwest. he will be touring the country telling us who supported these things but he's never prepared to take difficult decisions in order to support them. it is time -- >> the answers for the prime minister will be heard. prime minister. >> i think it is time for him to listen to his defense secretary who wrote very candidly over christmas there is a difference between populism and popularity, and that difference is called credibility. time to have some, i think. [shouting] >> ed miliband. >> instead of his prepared remarks, he should get his facts right. [shouting] he's just wrong. he is wrong. he says that he is continuing the policy of the last labour government, and he is simply wrong on the facts. the last labour government saw the train companies were doing and said we're going to put them into a. the prime minister said on the weekend he wanted to take action

against crony capitalism. he has failed the first hurdle. [shouting] i ask him for the last time, mr. speaker, we now reverse the policy? >> we are now on to the issue of hires peoples pay. on the issue of the rail fares, on the issue of the row, let me be absolutely clear. labour introduced the policy of 5% flexibility. they changed it for one year only for an election year, but no intention of making a permit if he doesn't know that, he should. [shouting] >> now, if he -- i think if he wants to get on to the issue of executive pay, i think he's entirely right to raise this issue. [shouting] and unlike a government. >> order. i want to hear the answer, and let me say -- order, order. and however long it takes, i

will. the prime minister. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i think he is right to raise the issue of executive pay, and unlike the last government that did nothing for 13 years, this government will act. [shouting] >> sir roger gale. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i understand my right honorable friend is recommending present and i'm not asking for another. the league of the opposition is talking, my constituents on the coastline have been paying up to 10% increases. under the last labour government, the last four years, until they lost. mr. speaker, in congratulating this government, in its courageous decision to pursue high speed to mac, can i ask a right angle for now to turn his attention to these unfinished business left by the last government, high speed one, it runs effectively -- vca driven

through so that we can enjoy the benefits the individual will be enjoyed by everyone? >> first of all? congratulate my right ottawa friend on his well-deserved honor for his service for many years are his constituents? he is and how to write about what happened under the last government were regulated fares went up by over 18% and unregulated fares by over 23%. on the issue of high speed one, uncertain look at what he says but i think high speed one is an of virgins for which you can get by linking up our country with high-speed rail, shortening commute distances and helping change the economic geography of her country so the action we can build a stronger economy. >> thank you, mr. speaker. over 80,000 in liverpool will live up to 100 pounds this wonderful if the governors -- governments cut for fuel a loud. will the prime minister adopted labour's policy ensuring companies automatically put the

elderly customers onto the cheapest, gas and electricity? >> first of all i'm afraid this is an outbreak of collective amnesia on the labour benches. because what we have done is actually keep the last government's policy on the winter to a loud. are meeting in full all the promises that she made and her party made at about the winter fuel allowance. but we have gone one further than that. because they introduce higher cold weather pay only for election year. with me them permanent. [shouting] >> the prime minister will have experienced firsthand the quality of nursing. what steps is the government taking to make sure that patients throughout the country are receiving the highest possible standards of nursing care from the nha? >> the honorable lady innocent i read. i well remember and, indeed, will never forget the time i

spent at the hospital, and the happy days i had there. is a great boost to go back again last year. i think we have very high standards of nursing care in the country, overwhelming majority of nurses to a fantastic job. i don't think we're serving our constituents properly if we don't highlight those few cases where it goes wrong. and we've seen through the cdc reports there have been areas where it goes wrong. i think and comment upon, to try to move the bureaucracy that can get in nurses way, but i think it's also important for us to highlight best practice in the best hospitals in a country and i visited an excellent hospital last weekend and to see let's copy that right across the countries with high standards of care and we look after the nutritional and all the care needs of people who are vulnerable in our hospitals. >> ed miliband. [shouting] >> mr. speaker, i want to ask the premise about scotland. [shouting] >> we on this side of the house -- [laughter] >> we believe the united kingdom

benefits the people of scotland and the people of the rest of the united kingdom in equal measures. we are stronger together and weaker apart. does the prime minister agree with me that we must make the case for the union, not simply against separatism but the positive case about the shared benefits to scotland's part in the united kingdom? the shared economic interest, the shared institution by the nhs and defense forces and the bbc, and above all, the shared values we hold together? >> i'm happy to say this is an area where the right honorable gentleman and i are going to be 100% agreement. i passionately believe in the future of our united kingdom. i passionate believe we are stronger together rather than breaking apart. frankly, i'm sad that we're even having this debate because i support the united kingdom so strongly, but we have to respect the fact that scotland vote for a separatist party at the scottish parliament elections. so the first thing that is right to do is make clear the legal

position. that is what my right honorable friend the scottish secretary has been doing, and we've made the offer that we will hold a referendum for a referendum can be made in scotland and held in scotland. and, frankly, i look forward to having the debate because i think that there have been too many in the snp were happy to talk about the process. they're happy to talk about the process. they don't want to talk about the substance. i sometimes feel when i listen to them it's not a referendum they want, it's a never in them. let's have a debate let's keep our country together. [shouting] >> mr. speaker, can agree with the prime minister and saying that this is not about a fight that this is not about a fight about process between the western government and disgusted or between an urge the minister and the scottish first minister. i think the way to tackle that is to have immediately cross party talks in scotland about issues around the timing of the

referendum, the nature of the single question referendum and the vital involvement of the electoral commission? but doesn't prime minister also agree with me that we need us as possible as he said to get beyond process and have the discussion about the substantive issues involved? because this is a momentous decision which frankly have children and grandchildren will have to live with if we get it wrong. so we need a serious, thoughtful and conclusive debate on what the choices are and the benefits to scotland's of staying in the united kingdom. on this issue come on this important issue the people of our country deserve nothing less than that serious debate about the benefits of the united kingdom. >> i think the right honorable gentleman is right on those three points. firstly on the process of negotiation i think he is very important a particularly that the snp have come out and made more clear what it is they want to do. i'm very happy for the u.k. government, the west mr. barletta, to speak directly to the scottish to become the

scottish part of an let's come to conclusion about the best time and the best way to hold this referendum. it must be clear, it must be legal, it must be decisive, it must be fair. those are the absolute keys. i agree with the right honorable gentleman come as soon as those process questions are settled we need to get onto substance be the only point i would make about the timing, as the honorable gentleman who can't seem to keep quiet is so cute to lead united kingdom i don't quite understand why they want to put up with the question for so long. [shouting] >> will the prime minister take to tackle the importance, issue of marriage both the u.k. and globally? >> i think the honorable lady is right to raise this issue. we have taken some steps as the last delegate to try to crack down on the practice of forced marriages which does tragically take place in too many communities and to me places in our country. we're looking specifically at the issue of whether we should

take further legal powers and make it a criminal offense but i'm taking a personal interest in this issue as i think we should be taking every available step. it is simply unacceptable. in 2012 in a civilized country like ours have such a barbaric practice. >> lillian greenwood. >> thank you, mr. speaker. [inaudible] some of the highest crime of in the country. hmi sees as nothing -- senior officers timothy government will impact front-line police. isn't it time to implement the please funny farm to get my local the police the resources they need? >> i will carefully at what she says to go ahead say is this, all police forces are having to make efficiencies. i would raise chief constables for the steps they've taken to deliver these efficiencies without affecting front-line policing. and at the same time still delivering a reduction in crime levels. in terms of the nottingham

police that are still 47 officers working in back office jobs. there are still trained police officers working in h.r. finance and corporate developer. they're still further work to be done to civilian eyes those parts of the police force and make sure we get all of our police officers out on the front line. >> andrew stephenson. >> thank you, mr. speaker. following the murder of my constituent by a former partner in a rapist, i presented a bill to the south. in october the justice team agreed to change law. of the prime minister confirm to the house and to her parents who sat in the public together today when that will happen? >> first of all, on the have become a canopy traded to ottawa for and for the work is done on this issue and, indeed, on this case. and our sympathies go out to the families suffered so horribly. there should be a right of appeal against crime court

decisions allowing bill. there is of course that right and magistrate courts this is a strong case for changing the law and will be tabling an amendment in the laws to the punishment of offenders bill creating a right of appeal to high court judge against the grant of bail by a crown court. i hope this will improve the law with more helpful to victims and get some satisfaction to the famine that he is represented well. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the scottish government was elected with an overwhelming mandate to deliver an independence referendum in the second half of the parliamentary term. [shouting] in contrast, the conservative party has led to move the parliament and the our giant -- [inaudible] [laughter] in a quite the opposite. we want to get to scotland the power to hold a legal

referendum. that is the power that we are giving and right across this house there is uniform belief that that needs to happen. so discussions can now be entered into about the timing of that referendum, about the precise nature of that referendum, so sure it is fair, it is decisive. the people of scotland deserve nothing less. >> mr. greg mulholland. >> thank you, mr. speaker. care of our older people is one of the most pressing issues facing this country today. will the prime minister join me in welcoming the campaign launched on monday? and we commit that the white paper due in the spring will present a real way forward on this vital issue? >> can i pay traded to my runnable friend for the work is done on this issue, and also to the campaign. i think we have a huge challenge to rise to this agenda and we want to do so through this white paper. and i think there are three element we've got to make sure

we do something about the rising cost of commissary care. rectum actually improve the quality of care people receive and, of course, i've got to address the issue of people having to sell their homes and all the assets to pay for care. so we are looking hard at all of these issues and working out a way forward that will be right for our care system and that the country can also afford. >> since the sunday times showed that in the last two years the thousand richest persons in britain got richer by 137 billion pounds -- [laughter] enough to pay off the entire deficit, and believe therefore tax them to fund the creation of a million jobs which is a far better way of cutting the deficit that prolongs ask your? >> for him and others talk about the prime minister he served under. [laughter] but, of course, i is absolutely essential that as we reduce the deficit and as we take difficult

decisions where both fair and seem to be there. and the fact is that what we have done so far issue in the top 10% of the country paying 10 times more than the bottom 10% of the country. and crucially the top 10% in terms of earnings are not only paying more in cash terms but i pay more as a percentage of their income. as we go ahead with his agenda i want to make sure that people behave responsibly and the government does, too. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i'm sure both you and the prime minister will want to congratulate mr. tony watley has served as postmaster for over 60 years. [shouting] and is still not retired, caring on. however, one-third are being let down by those post offices provision to can the primates encouraged the post office to use their generous subsidy to ensure rural villages are served, not left stranded? >> well, i certainly join my honorable friend in paying tribute to mr. watley to run your village post office for six

years, a huge achievement. and it's people like that that keep our country going. in terms of the government and we have committed 1.3 billion pounds to improving the network. as a condition of this funding the post office must maintain at least 11,500 branches, but i think she makes about mobile post office is a good one. this is the way you can serve many committees and make sure that elderly and vulnerable are getting the services that they need. >> davidson sent. >> thank you the deputy prime minister has reported to have said in the last few days that in due course of the united kingdom will sign up to the e.u. at the prime minister rejected only a short time ago. was the deputy prime mr. correct? >> deposition is very straightforward. [laughter] we did not sign, we did not sign the treaty because we were not, we did not get the safeguards

that we received. and so that situation is not going to change. what coalition partners want to put into their election manifestoes the next election is entirely up to them. >> andrew jones. >> mr. speaker, does the prime is that we would mean that people should pay their taxes, keep their businesses on shore and not -- [inaudible] what is the prime minister to to stamp out such predatory business practices? >> welcome to my honorable friend does make an interesting point which is for all the lecture about predatory capitalism and sing with got to tax to do business in different ways, the one person that the leader of the opposition has chosen to advise them on this issue face all his company in the british virgin islands. [shouting] >> mr. speaker, prime minister, the united kingdom resource -- has been cut given there are a million women unemployed and women make up only 12.3% of people in science, engineering

and technology. could've prime mr. look again at funding the u.k. rc, and thereby restoring britain as a leading role for science in this country, to nurture the downs of dorothy hodgkins and rosalind franklin? >> well, i will certainly look at the case the audible they set out because she knows despite having to make difficult decisions across a range of public spending areas we did not get the science budget and, indeed, in the statement of the chance to provide a series enhancement for specific science-based projects so i will look at the specific when she mentions and get back to her. >> mike crocker. >> thank you, mr. speaker. today unfortunately the 10th anniversary of the opening of guantanamo bay, acoustical institution which still holds to this day one u.k. national. will the prime minister commit to do all he can to see that 2012 is the last year that this institution operates? >> in a right angle friend the fourth of you is working for hard with united states to

crisis secure this issue and to bring this chapter to a close. and as he will know we've also taken steps as a government, as a country to try and achieve some closure about what happens in the past by settlement with those people who were at guantanamo bay. and also sending up a proper inquiry to make sure that the british government was not complicit in any way in terms of torture to those people who in guantanamo bay or indeed elsewhere. >> thank you, mr. speaker. a moment ago the prime minister was clear that his crucial government economic policy seems to be fair. and the prime minister therefore confirm that tax rate income above 150,000 pounds will remain in place for the duration of this parliament? >> we take pretty much the same point of view as the shadow chancellor, former shadow chancellor when he introduced it who said they should be a temporary measure. and i think we should also take a judgment on how much money the

tax is raising that the purpose of the tax is to raise money for the funds we need to put into our public services. and i think it's important would look at how it works in practice. >> had to wheel her. >> mr. speaker, with the prime minister congratulate the secretary of transport and the good work for securing the 180 million-pound contract on the 20th of december and it doesn't that is so important to the worker's? >> i congratulate everyone for winning the contract, and as i said before, i want the government to be a good customer of british firms and to work with its supply chain, not to make the mistakes frankly that alaska but made that two of the contracts for the railway service. >> mr. speaker, the prime minister will probably be a winner at the chief executive of this stock exchange is paid 35

times as much as a hospital consultant who keeps health and safety laws. if he is going to act up on high pay, can he give a day, a year from now, within the lifetime of is part of where we will see that obscene 35 times come tumbling down the? >> first of all on the issue of pay ratios i do think we should make progress on the issue of pay ratios, and if we can start with a government setting out its own pay ratios, as an act of leadership actively this leadership has some some leadership by cutting ministers do everything in and by having total transparency across government forbade. on the issue of the specific case he raises, the point i make is this. this year we've seen a 49% increase in pay and yet only 4% increase in. i'm not against people running great copies being paid lots of money if their growth and, if their expanded, if they are succeeding. but what we should have is rewards for failure, but,

frankly, the last government has 13 years of doing it and did nothing. >> nicholas the balls. >> mr. speaker, does the prime minister think it can ever be full for a single-family to receive 100,000 pounds a year in housing benefits alone? >> that i think biographer and makes an important point. the top peoples hate issue, and this issue are in many ways link. we need to get rid of a something for nothing culture in this country. because, frankly, we inherited an out of control benefit system we did get families on many, many, tens of thousands of housing benefits. had an out of control immigration system where it is page and we also had an out of control banking system where reward wasn't linked with success but unlike alaska will deal with all of those things. >> tony cunningham in the prime minister, the current health economy is in crisis. a real crisis. how does h