>> and now to london for prime minister's question time live from the bridge house of commons. 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. >> a supporter of the commonwealth games and ensuring that the legacies from these olympics is carried on into the commonwealth games in glasgow. >> order. questions for the prime minister. >> number one mr. speaker. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i'm sure the whole house will

wish to join in paying tribute to guardsman karl whittle a first battalion grenadier guards who died on friday from wounds that he sustained in afghanistan in august. and sergeant lee davidson of the light dragoons. these are courageous and much respected men. they gave their lives in the service of our country. we remember their friends and loved ones and we are forever in debt. i'm sure the house would also join me in welcoming the renaming of the clock tower today as they elizabeth our. following the campaign led by my friend the member from piece, i believe it's a fitting tribute to her majesty, the queen and the incredible services given to our country for 60 years. this morning i had meetings with colleagues and others and i will have further such meetings in addition to my duties in this house today. >> i, too, pay tribute to her troops who have died. we often vote for war in his house but it is far greater people than we do have to do the fighting. the number of women who have

lost their jobs under the government's cuts has been twice the number of the number of men and the statistics out today show that the number of female redundancies is rising over the last few months. in addition, of course we now have nine government departments with not a single woman minister. now i know the prime minister likes to think of himself as butch -- [laughter] >> he told us, he told us a last week in this very house. so what does the prime minister got against women? >> well first of all what i would say to the honorable gentleman is the unemployment figures today do actually have a number of very encouraging figures in them, including the fact that women's employment, the number of women in employment is actually up 128,000 this quarter, and that

is up 250,000 more women and work than at the time of the last election. i think that is encouraging. obviously, the way we have treated public sector pay and the public sector pay freeze and particularly lope people in the public sector, that has helped women. but do we need to be women to help women into work? district we need to do more with childcare? yes. and we need to help encourage more women into politics and see more women at a higher level? yes to that as well. >> local businesses and people in my constituency are working hard to a the recovery of the economy. will my right honorable friend, the prime minister, join me in condemning the irresponsible threat of coordinated strike tactics by the trade union when it will do nothing but undermine the efforts of my constituents?

>> my honorable friend is absolutely right. to speak up for constituents who work hard and do the right thing, and today's unemployment figures show an extra million private sector jobs net since the election which i think is something that shows our economy is rebounding. but she's right to say the trade unions do provide a threat to our economy. the party opposite has received 12 million pounds since the honorable member he came leader of the party from the three unions who are now threatening a general strike. and i have to say to her, they have threatened a strike to stop for fuel supplies. they threatened a strike to disrupt the olympics. now they threaten a strike to wreck the economy. when he stands up i think it's time for him to say he will take no more money from the unions while they take their threats. >> ed miliband. [shouting] >> mr. speaker, can i join the

prime minister in paying tribute to guardsman karl whittle a first battalion grenadier guards, and sergeant lee davidson of the light dragoons, both of them showed the utmost courage and bravery, and our thoughts are with all their family and friends. can i also join the prime minister in celebrate today the renaming of the clock tower as they elizabeth power. it was done with all party support. it is a fitting tribute to the service, her majesty, the queen has shown to our country. mr. speaker, the fall and unlimited is welcome, but all of us, but all of us will be concerned for the number of people out of work for more than a year, stand at 904,000. its highest level since 17 years. does he agree with me this is a particularly troubling statistic? the longer someone is out of work the harder it is for them to get back into it, and the more damage that is done to them, their families entity to our economy.

>> i absolutely agree with him about the dangers and threats of long-term unemployment. i think he has worked to put in front of the house the full figures today. unemployment is down by 7000, employment is up by 236,000 over the course. i think it is significant because it's the real-time life figure and that is the claimant count, the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in august was down 15,000. as i just said when you look at the private sector jobs number, which is vital when you think we need to rebalance our economy, there are over a million net new private sector jobs over the last two years. he's right the long-term unemployment figure is disturbing. that is what the work program is designed to deal with. the work program we've got up and running within a year. it's help already 690,000 people. the key part of it is those who were hardest to up, people on incapacity stop benefit also been long-term unemployed would pay their training more to help

them into work. that is the key 40 with this problem in the time ahead. >> he talks about the work program but not only is long-term unemployed at its highest level for nearly two decades, that over the past 12 months we've seen a 247% rise in the number of young people on the dole for over a year. that is happening throughout the country. mr. speaker, isn't this the clearest evidence so far that his work program just isn't working? >> i don't accept the. first of all, only use unemployment picture, it is disappointing that use unemployment is up 7000 over the course. but, of course, the use unemployment figures to include young people in full-time education. the picture of young people in work, youth employment that is up 48,000 over the court -- order. in terms of use contract itself that is not up and running. 65,000 young people of taken

part in work experience programs which were criticized by some people sitting opposite and some trade unions. but actually within 21 weeks, half of them have been taken off the unemployment register with proper work. i think it's very encouraging. it means it's about 20 times more cost-effective than the future jobs fund that it replaced. >> mr. speaker, i have to say to him, to all the young people looking for work around the country that does sound like a rather complacent answer. and the reality is, and the reality is that because of his failure on long-term unemployment, borrowing the key test he set himself is up 25% in the first four months of this year. he is borrowing 9.3 billion pounds more in the first four months of this year than last year. that's 1.6 million pounds in the hour of prime ministers questions. now, when we gather today --

[shouting] and we gather, and we gather today, and we gather today, the government may miss the overriding economic test that he set himself which is that debt will be falling at a time of the next election. isn't the fact that he said and the very test he set himself the surest sign yet his plan is not working? >> first of all there's absolutely no complacency in this government over the issue of either use implement our long-term unemployment. that's why we're putting so much energy and effort into the apprenticeship program and we've seen 457,000 apprenticeships start in the last year which is a record 50. and something we want to build on in the years ahead with one a half billion pounds invested. he raises the issue of borrowing and this government, the last two years has cut the deficit at a quarter. but i have to say to him if he's concerned about borrowing why does he have plans to put it up? that in many ways you can reduce borrowing. the one where you can't reduce

borrowing is to increase spending and increased borrowing which is what he tells us what to do. >> mr. speaker, the reality that this congress can't get away with is that it is rising on his watch. that is the reality. borrowing is a. borrowing is up 25%. 9.3 billion pounds in the first four months of this year. maybe when the prime minister gets up to reply he can tell us whether the report is one that the government is not going to meet its target that debt will be falling by the end of this parlor are correct or whether he sticks to that promise. the reality is he's failing the test he set himself and it shows that his plan is not working. >> it is this government that is cut the inherited by a quarter. that's a we have done in two years. normally, mr. speaker, this stage in the preceding i say to the party opposite hasn't got any plans, but on this occasion

i can reassure the house they have got some plants. they've got a new plan. it's called pre-distribution. [laughter] i think what that means is that you spend the money before you actually get it. [laughter] and i think you'll find that so we are in the mess we're in right now shop-vacs. >> -- [shouting] mr. speaker, mr. speaker, i'll tell him what it's about. it's an economy that doesn't just work for a few of the top but work for everyone. [shouting] and and it's not about a promise to cut taxes for millionaires while raising taxes for everyone else. and perhaps link it's up to reply he can answer the question which he so far hasn't answered. is he going to be a beneficiary of the atp tax cut? >> this is an economy that is generated a million new private sector jobs. now i know, i know he doesn't

want to i know doesn't want to talk about pre-distribution, but i've done a little work, mr. speaker. i can tell him about his new do. is new to route the call, i'm not making this up, then who invented free distribution, he is called, i'm not making this up, they don't want to hear -- >> order. the house -- order, members of both sides need to calm down. let's hear the answer. >> surprised they don't want to hear from their nuclear. he's called mr. jay hacker. [laughter] and mr. jay hacker's recommendation is that we spend an extra 200 billion borrow an extra 200 billion in this parliament. that is his recommendation. but in the work i've done i've discovered his new book. it is published by princeton university press and is called the road to nowhere. he doesn't need to read. he is there already.

>> ed miliband. >> let me, let me kabul madame mr. speaker, on such a butch answer. [laughter] and what do we get from mr. blitch, mr. speaker? because he briefed -- preached against the new international secretary, the former transport secretary. he was knocking back the clerics while backing the welsh secretary. and when it came to the environment secretary, mr. speaker, she was attacks because she was too old and replace by a man who was older. very good, mr. speaker. the reality is this. the prime minister is going to have to answer between now and april but he didn't answer the question as to whether he's going to get the top rate tax cut, a tax cut for millionaires by millionaires. the reality is this, their plan is failing. they stand up for the wrong people. plan a is not working.

he should change course. >> on a day when we hear that this economy has created 1 million net new private sector jobs, all we have learned from the labour party is they have learned nothing. they are still committed to the spending, the borrowing and the debt that got us into this mess in the first place. that's the truth and they can't hide it from the british public. >> annetta brooke. >> thank you, mr. speaker. since the 10th anniversary of breast cancer campaign where pink day, over that time we see many improvements to breast cancer sufferers but there's still much more to be done come including improving early identification of this disease for all pages. will be prime minister to meet with the chair of the all party group breast cancer as a leading charities for further discussion? >> i think the honorable lady is not so the right to raise this issue. i'm very happy to have that meeting but i think we made big

leaps forward under governments of all parties frankly in terms of advancing the agenda on breast cancer and she's right that early identification, early diagnosis is vital. they're still more to be done. i would pay tribute to the thousands of another country not only wear those ribbons but take part in summary different campaigns, so much fundraising and so much awareness raising. i would like to welcome her to that meeting. >> brush deal is proud of her strong links with the royal regiment. we now know this decision was taken by ministers not by by the professional leadership of the army. with morale at an all time low in the armed forces, why will the prime minister we consider? >> he's very difficult decisions as we move towards an army, regular army of 80,000 but an expanded territorial army of 30,000. clearly we have proper discussions and these are ministers as for the armed

forces to make these decisions about how best to structure that army to maintain as many camp badges and historic richmond as possible in all of the united kingdom and that's how we reach those decisions. we defend those decisions. if people want it, to those alternatives of course we will listen to them. >> with the prime minister agree with me the improvement in the balance of trade figures are very welcome and demonstrate the we can rebalance our economy by expanding our trade with the rest of the world as was with europe? >> i think my honorable friend makes in court and point at the trade figures out yesterday show the biggest cash decline in the trade deficit for 20 years at and as i've said many times, we do face great economic difficulties in this country and across europe, but we are seeing a rebalancing of the economy, a growth in terms of private sector employment that i've talked about, manufacturing now accounting for a growing share of the economy rather than a shrinking share of the economy, a big increase in exports

particularly to the fastest-growing part of the world. we need more of that to happen alongside small business creation and entrepreneurs in order to rebalance our economy to make it stronger for the future. >> thank you, mr. speaker. before the election the prime minister promised a moratorium on hospital closures. last year he told me heating hospital would not close without the support of doctors and patients. so why aren't the doctors and patients have to march on saturday to keep other hospitals open? >> well let me say again to the honorable gentleman who quite rightly raise this issue there's no plans to close healing hospital. i understand it is time for many pounds for 2012-2013 which includes refurbishing some warts. in hospital nhs proposed merger with north west london hospital is a massive trust themselves to exclude complete reconfiguration

of frontline health services at the mouth -- is a metaphor the nhs. as others know any proposed changes to clinical services have to be subject to the four tests, support from commissions, strengthen public engagement, clarity on the clinical evidence-based and support for patient choice. so he's quite right to raise this issue but that is how it should be approached. >> media the. >> thank you, mr. speaker. [shouting] >> she has crumbling vertebrae and is in pain. she is 87. he recently applied the review of her blue badge like many other constituents who have written to me was turned down due to the way the new national blue badge improvement service is being implement and locally. will the prime minister intervened to ensure that the

scheme is being implemented fairly and appropriately across the country? >> i will look very carefully at the case that my right honorable friend mentions, because i think it is important that this reform is carried out properly. i think they all get to sorts of complaints, sometimes in people who see people, have the plea that you don't manage it but all so from those who do deserve it and can't get it. candidate to become a right honorable friend for his long work on education standing and for leaving and true rigor, schools? he has seen many of his ideas put into practice and that is what we come into politics to achieve. >> [inaudible] important lessons to ministers about the coming too close to the outside. now it appears that is climate change minister may be making similar mistakes.

given the reports today, does the prime minister have the same complete confidence in his private change minister as he has in his former defense secretary? >> the climate change minister is doing an excellent job, and i want to put that on the record. i've consulted the cabinet secretary over this issue. the secretary of the department of energy and climate change has examined this issue. the cabinet secretary has examined it and i don't see any for further inquiry on that basis. the key point that i would make is that the individual in question was hired by civil servants after a properly run competition. >> mr. speaker, mr. speaker, mr. speaker, this month, this month marks the 40th anniversary of

the expulsion of patients in uganda by idi amin. they came to this country of with nothing but the clothes on their backs as they pick themselves up and soon integrated themselves into britain. will my right honorable friend, the prime minister, join me in committee this community and also the conservative government, which had the courageous decision to let them in notwithstanding the enormous amount of proposition both in the house and in the country at large? >> i think my honorable friend is absolutely right to raise this. the asians have come from kenya and uganda have made an extraordinary contribution to this country, and he was absolutely right decision to welcome them here as happened in the 1970s, and those who oppose it i believe were profoundly wrong. and i would also say to him who is actually from that background what incredible achievement is for someone from that background to get with one generation to come to parliament and such a

distinguished contribution. >> mr. speaker, last week we saw a painful experience for me. but can the prime minister advises why he recommended knighthood or five of his -- [inaudible] but there was nothing -- >> i actually take the view that when people come into public light and work hard in opposition and in government and make a contribution, then that is something we should recognize. it shouldn't only be permanent secretaries that receive these honest. we should also be prepared to honor ministers who work hard answer the country as well. >> order, order. the honorable member must be heard. >> our armed forces are almost willing to do what we ask of them without complaint, but

there will be a detrimental impact on individuals training, deployment opportunities and r&r if asked them to keep this country were in the safest strikes. isn't this another reason why the leaders should think again? >> i think my friend makes an extreme you could point and i do hope that these trade unions were meeting and discussing the supporting id of a general strike think again and think of the good of our economy rather than their own selfish interest. she makes the important point about armed services and i think is right to put on the record again what a fantastic job they did with the olympics and paralympics stepping up to the plate and putting such a friend and smiley face on our games. from everything i saw at the olympic games our armed services were pleased to play that role. there are times when we can call upon them and they will be i know, be pleased to serve. >> shocked and saddened that has become a source of the year --

[inaudible] members opposite saw the attack and even accuse them -- [inaudible] with the prime minister now take this opportunity to separate themselves from those comments and support the report? >> i'm a strong supporter of save the children i think you do an excellent job. and i think, look, as long as we recognize the sort of poverty that we tragically still have in britain is very different from the poverty of people surviving on a dollar a day in sub-saharan africa. as long as we respect the differences between the sorts of poverty i think it's absolutely right that ngos, charities and voluntary groups campaign on poverty issues here in the uk as well as overseas. >> in a debate last year i highlighted how four of the services, including in the village of new church, i think might be unique in the whole country for having or service

when it rains. so does the prime minister share my joy when they cut the red tape holding back the roll out that is so desolate need for businesses intending all across the uk? >> i certain enjoy my honorable friend in his campaign to make sure that all of the art world community's have access to superfast broadband. it isn't just an issue of money and this government is putting the money and. are also planning issue because some councils have held up giving permission to the necessary cabinets and other things that have to be put in place at street and village level and that's what our planning reform announced by mike friend will sweep away that bureaucracy so we can get broadband everywhere. >> despite the prime minister's recent valiant effort, does he not realize that denying thousands of our disabled constituents benefits, the tories really are the nasty

party? >> i simply don't accept even the premise of the right honorable gentleman's question. the fact is we are not cutting the money that is going into disability benefits. the question is how best to reform those disability and if it's so disabled people actually get access to the benefits that they require. i think anyone who's looked to dla, disability living allowance, knows it needs reform. and reform has been led by many of the disability groups who want to see something that is much more related to people with disabilities and faster to access as well. >> will my right honorable friend join me in celebrating a major investment by the chinese firm who are investing 1.3 billion over five years degree 700 jobs in the uk? and will he encourage this? >> i'm delighted to say that it to welcome the investment, and met with founder and chairman yesterday at number 10 downing

street, significant investment of one and a half billion pounds. i'm afraid to say some of the jobs are going to be created i very much hope in band very but with investment of vista i'm sure there will be opportunities around the rest of the kanji. they are coming i believe not for the weather but because we've got highly trained engineers. with action and universities. we are a leading role in the mobile industries and they they think this is a government that is open to business. >> can i ask the prime minister to explain why in the previous parliament members of either house and were shown to have deliberately abuse the expensive system were quite rightly forced to face the full rigor of the law? but why is it in this parliament the same probe and dishonesty results and the restoration of ministerial offices and a seat in the cabinet?

>> i think if the honorable gentleman is referring to my right honorable friend the minister who is tending cabinet and minister of state and the department of education, he made very clear the mistakes that he made in terms of the expenses. he resigned from the government, and i think you should -- >> order. prime minister's answers must be heard. prime minister and back as i said in relation to the pass, i do think it's right to give someone a second chance. >> thank you, mr. speaker. first, does my right honorable friend agree with the managing director of -- contacted me about the government's plan to sweep away the necessary health and safety -- [inaudible] is in the commonsense remove the headache for low risk businesses and is a scrapping unnecessary and unpredictable inspection a

valuable piece of the regulation which will help small businesses grow of? >> i think my auto friend is right to highlight this. where 3000 regulations in our sights that we believe can be radically scale down or reduced. we've made progress already. we believe there's more we can do to exempt particularly small firms from regulation, and i think the new minister is in the business will be pressing ahead with the full support down is very, very important agenda. >> four years ago the prime minister thought high speed at providing -- and, therefore, third runway. as he is not giving over heathrow, is he also dithering over h. to macs because i completely support a just you think it's an investment the need to go ahead for the good of our country. >> following the recent reshuffle, there has been speculation in the presst