dave mccurdy talks about federal assistance to the auto industry, and the government's 60% stake in general motors. stephen aftergood looks at the possibility of a center to speed up the release of classified documents. that is live at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. . . 00000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000

sapper jordan rossi of 38 dannielynn tonight, we will engineers, and the soldier from the second battalion, two rifles, who was killed yesterday. for these are exceptionally brave men, whose service should not and will not ever be forgotten. recent operations of chantell we will not allow the taliban to jeopardize the future of a free and democratic afghanistan, and the whole country should be rightly proud of the sacrifice these men have made. 00000000000000000000000000000000

also have a report that we a strong reason to believe that a british citizen edwin dyer has been murdered by an al qaeda sell in mali. i, as will the whole house, utterly condemn this appalling anbar barracked active terrorism. our thoughts and condolences are with the family. i have talked to the president of mali. he knows he will have every support in rooting out al qaeda from this country. i want those to use terror against this country and against british citizens to know that beyond doubt that they will be hunted down and brought to justice >> my colleagues and i would like to associate cells with the condolences expressed

by the prime minister for these brave men who lost their lives in afghanistan recently and also for the families of mr. -- the family of mr. dyer. just now, we are seeing the the pathetic sight of the cabinet attempting to reshuffle itself. when will the prime minister accept that he has lost all authority and call an election? >> there is work to be done every day to deal with the recession. if we had taken the advice of the other parties, we would not have taken action to nationalize the banks. we would not have taken action to deal with the problems that small businesses face a and the people faced with unemployment. this is the action that needs a government that is taking action every day. >> at last year's union with the mediterranean summit, my right honorable friend is backing to concentrated solar power as a means of providing almost limitless clean energy for

europe. given that more than 170 members of the house and signed an early-day motion supporting concentrated solar power and the development of a high- voltage, direct-current super grid, where at the steps is my right honorable friend taking? >> this is a serious issue, which needs european cooperation for it to happen, and our target is 15% of energy consumption to come from renewable sources. if we spend over 11 million pounds over the last few years to support solar installations, and we will probably meet these new targets. , we will work with all countries in europe to develop a strategy to deal with renewables. >> david cameron. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i join the prime minister in paying tribute to the soldier from the second battalion the rifles he was killed yesterday. also, we will remember the man corporal, the corporal, the lance corporal, lance corporal robert richards, sapper jordan

rosi, and fusilier suesue.] all of them have been killed in the service of their country, and we will not forget their sacrifice, and we must care for their families. i also join the prime minister in sending condolences to the family and friends of edwin dyer. this must simply be a terrific time for his family, and i am sure everyone in the country is thinking about it. we must never give into terrorists -- in to terrorists. this morning, the committee's secretary resigned from the cabinet. that follows yesterday's announcement that the children's minister is standing down. why does not the prime minister accept that his ability to command his cabinet has simply disappeared? >> i think the first thing that the whole house will want to do is to acknowledge the great work that is being done by both the home secretary and the committee's secretary in the

cabinet. -- and the communities secretary in the cabinet. i think at a time like this, the house should come together to knowledge contributions that have been made in the public interest, and i will just also say that under the un secretary, what we have seen is crime down, neighborhood policing introduced, the fight on tariffs and stepped up, and we have seen better relationships between the police and the community. and i have to remind the conservative party that we doubled crime under a conservative government. policing was cut. >> the prime minister is in denial. if these people have done such good work, what are the walking away from their jobs? the community's secretary statement does not pay tribute to him, or a single one of his policies. let us be clear about what is happening. the minister in charge of local government is resigning the day before the local elections. is not the fact that she has chosen this day of all days to

go a direct challenge to his authority? >> mr. speaker, i think some people should take a step back here and understand what has been happening. for the past few weeks, the past few weeks at a difficult for every member on every side of this house. i think people have got to recognize in the politicking that goes on that there have been enormous pressures from people, and the public are angry, and there have also been family pressures on members of this house, and that is true, of all sides of the house, and i think we have a responsibility to all members of the house in this, so, yes, there are elements of party politics that the right honorable dominica would want to raise, but he has knowledge that in all parts of the house, there are issues that people want to sort out. >> i have to say to the prime minister that if this was about expenses, and the communities secretary would have resigned weeks ago. the fact is is that she has chosen to resign today. >> order, order.

do not do that. do not shout down the leader of the opposition. order. order. >> yes. >> order. remember that there is a danger of the house been suspended if people continue to shout. that is the danger, and there will be no prime minister's question time. order. order. this goes to the house, as well. >> i have to say that the prime minister talks about pressures, those pressures on the committee's secretary, on others in his cabinet, including numbersent directly being against them. what we see is a dysfunctional capital in a dysfunctional government led by prime minister cannot give a lead. can he perhaps guaranteed as proof that there will be no further resignations ahead of his reshuffle? >> i hope that the right honorable gentleman will the knowledge that for both sides of

the house, the event of the past few weeks at a difficult. in each parts of the house, people have found it difficult with the pressures upon them. i was also to pay tribute to the communities secretary for the work that she has done, because she has brought new relationships between local government and central government. she has sponsored urban regeneration in shopping centers in our country, and she has been active in building better relationships with the muslim communities, and i think at times like this, it is our duty, all of us, in all parts of the house, he recognize contributions that people have made. as for what he says about the government, let me just say, we have got two jobs to do. one is to clean up expenses system, where i think anybody else in the house accepted agrees that we have to take action now to clean up that system, and i think the second thing is that we have got to take this country through a recession. now, and remarkable thing about the leader of the opposition here is that this is yet another week when there has not been one

question on policy. >> the prime minister has got to understand that the issue here is about his leadership. the failure of the government on appearance is not as bad as the failure on substance. so let me turn -- let me turn -- let me turn to the issue of the economy, and let us take -- let's take just one key individual, the person responsible for steering us through the recession, the chancellor of the exchequer. now, the prime minister refuses to talk about him in anything other than the past tense. now, we know that the home secretary is going. we know that the community's secretary is going, so can the prime minister tell us, will the chancellor, sitting there in front of us, still be in his post in one week's time? >> it has nothing to do with politics.

he is incapable of dealing with the big issues that face this country. and let me say what this chancellor is achieving. this chancellor is leading the rest of the world and taking us out of recession. this chancellor has taken action about the conservative party's refusal to support. what has happened? what have they done? nothing. what has been done when they were helping mortgage holders? nothing. what is their policy? is to do nothing. that is not the basis on which to ask for an election. if the chancellor -- >> if the chancellor is doing such a good job, can he tell us, will he be there in bornstein? >> i am said the chancellor is doing a very good job, and i would hope that he would agree with me. let me just tell the house, this is the only party that once an election when they have got no policy to deal with the

recession. they want an election, but they have got no policies to help homeowners. they want an election, but there is no policy to of the unemployed. this is the party that will talk and talk and talk, but it has nothing to do with action. >> if the prime minister is not happy with our policies, why does he not call an election? what the prime minister needs to realize is how important this is. why should the british public believe the chancellor is the prime minister does not have confidence in him? why should international markets have confidence in the chancellor if the prime minister does not have confidence in him? that is what this is as serious. he told us he had the right team to take the country forward. that team is not deserting him. the government is collapsing before our eyes. fly does he not take the one at about 40 left to him, get down to the palace, asked for a dissolution, call an election? but why does he not take the one

step that is left to him? >> there is absolutely no substance in anything he says. the reason we are dealing with the problem is we have got to clean up the electrical system -- the electoral system, and we are doing that. the second thing we are doing is cleaning up the economy and making sure that the economy comes out of recession. this party opposite has no policies to deal with that. it is words, words, and words. we will get on with the action. >> my right honorable friend has more tarred along with the business secretary to bring about a positive solution to the future of vauxhall. many of my constituents, of course, are not aware of what has happened behind the scenes. will my right honorable friend give them the assurance that the government will continue with the high mosul of support that is going on, and will also

distance itself from the statements that it is not desirable to rescue the motor industry made by the liberal democrats? >> i am grateful to my honorable friend, who has been a great supporter of ellesmere port and the car industry year, and that is what people in this country are concerned about, the jobs of workers in car factories and in a car supply industry. we have been working with general motors and to potential buyers, and we are now working with the preferred buyer for general motors, and our determination is to save the jobs in this country and to make sure that people have a secure future. we have also, as honorable members know, introduced a scheme that allows people to sell cars, so we are doing whatever began to move the car industry for, but i just have to say to this house, it would not be possible unless we are prepared to put public funds into making that happen, and i am afraid that is rejected by the opposition.

>> i would also like to add my expressions of sympathy and condolences to the families of fusilier petero suesue, sapper jordan rossi, lance corporal robert richards, lance corporal kieron hill, lance corporal nigel moffett, corporal stephen bolger, and the soldier from the second battalion the right also died yesterday. the prime minister is fighting for his own political survival. there is extreme danger when people start feeling that there is simply no one in charge. >> mr. speaker, the dangers are when you do not deal with problems that are before us. one is to deal with the expenses system in the house of commons, and the second is to deal with

the problems and challenges of the economy. now, i thought that the liberal party would support us in that action that we are taking, and i would also join the other party in talking only about things other than policy. the country wants us to talk about what we are doing to help them. >> his government is paralyzed. it is paralyzed by indecision. crippled by infighting, exhausted after 12 long years. it is a tragedy at exactly the time when people need help and action. it has a void. labour is finished. is it not obvious -- is it not obvious -- is it not obvious that the only choice now is between the conservatives and the liberal democrats? >> mr. speaker, mr. speaker -- i seem to remember -- i seem to remember the new liberals as saying that every election that

i have ever fought. mr. speaker -- mr. speaker, he is right to say that the country needs action, and the action is coming from this government, and yet he will listen to what we are doing, i think you will find its that this would help the car industry, to up the banks, to about the unemployed, to one of those people who are homeowners. we are departing with the ideas about how to dig this country out of recession. neither of the main opposition parties have anything to offer us. >> mr. speaker, will my right honorable friend reaffirm the government's commitment to decent, affordable homes for all? in the past month in west london, a decent homes program has been described as upgrading the deck chairs on the titanic, and social housing as an incentive not to improve one's lot for one's efforts. with the condemned the politicians and made those comments? >> he is absolutely right. when a conservative council has cut the decent tom's program and

cut back on the investment in it, you do not need to look and a crystal ball to see what the conservatives will do. you can see it in the action they are doing to cut a decent palms and the constituency. i support taking up the case of many people in his constituency the are looking for decent times and look to their counsel to provide them. -- to their council to provide them. >> may i put it to the prime minister that the problem of members' allowances falls within the remit of sir christopher kelly's committee and should be left there until it report? but as he has hinted that he wishes to gain a reputation as a constitutionalist over this

issue -- may i suggest that as he is almost uniquely unsuited to play the role of a ladder-day thomas jefferson, -- a latter- day thomas jefferson, he should look at the existing constitution, as almost anyone in the country would ask him to do, use that traditional constitution to ask her magazine to dissolve this parliament so that they can elect a new one? >> mr. speaker, i am grateful for is his 300-your perspective on these issues. it is right that christopher ke lly's committee report -- it is also right that we take further action. it is not right that there

emerges a conflict of interest between public interest and the mp's' interest, and that is why it is greater benefit to us. >> joan ryan. >> thank you, mr. speaker. my right honorable friend will be aware of the valiant campaign led by the british war allegiance to of council tax benefit we branded as a rebate, which would increase to take up and with thousands of pensioners out of poverty, including 20,000 veterans. this saturday marks the 65th anniversary of d-day. does my right honorable friend agree with me that this would be an appropriate time to announce such a change so that all pensioners, especially our veterans, who have served the country with courage and dignity, can live in dignity? >> i think the whole house will want to honor today to sacrifice and service of all of those people who were involved in the d-day landings and all of those

people who were involved in the sacrifice and service that made possible that victory in the second world war and the peace that we now enjoy as a result, and i want to pay tribute to those individual veterans who are still part of the royal british legion. i talked to the treasurer of my branch of the royal british legion only a few days ago. we have a delegation of the royal british legion coming to c.b. pensions minister this afternoon. she is proposing the pension credit could be put in a new form, where it could be seen as a rebate. that will be discussed this afternoon. we wanted to be automatic, and i hope that all sides of the house will be open to support such an endeavor. >> would have to 50,000 homeowners facing repossession this year, if the government is doing so much to tell them, why is the only two people who happen help so far? >> this is not -- this is not

correct. thousands of people are being helped. thousands of people are being helped with the various schemes. the mortgage-income support scheme for people who are unemployed, which is now available for those with house is worth under 200 thousand, a and large numbers of people are claiming that. the second is a moratorium that is available on people's building society and bank payments, which we negotiated. the third is about a share of the house to number-- to help people move forward, and the fourth is the measures we are taking to deal with the way that a separate mortgages in the first place. now, i have to tell him that the report said that they expect repossessions to be far less than what we were predicting, as a result of the actions we're taking, and any repossession is to be regretted. there are many circumstances in which repossessions happen. there are other situations that are caused by the lack of money.

we are trying to help those people to maintain their mortgages and renegotiate them, and i think we would find that there is no government to do more to prevent repossession, and that is what a labour government is about. we will not walk by on the other side. >> thank you, mr. speaker. granting a pardon to michael shields, following the high court's decision last december? michael has now been in prison for four years, following what i firmly believe is a gross miscarriage of justice. >> mr. shields, as everybody knows, has applied for a free pardon within the terms of the high court judgment that was handed down on 17 december. i understand his family's concerns about the delay. they have waited a long time. he has a large number of supporters the justice secretary is determined to make the best and fairest decision he can, but

he can only do that in the public interest assessing all managerial -- all material available. >> is the prime minister in paris that britain is now a more unequal country than any time since the 1960's? -- is the prime minister embarrassed? >> mr. speaker, we have taken millions of people out of poverty. we have taken children out of poverty, and we have taken pensioners out of poverty. we have set new targets for child poverty and for pensioner poverty. as a result of this laboutr government, try a benefit has been raised, working families tax credit has been introduced, and child tax credit has also been introduced, and taking one put 5 million people out of poverty in itself. >> while i welcome the prime minister's attack on the abuses of expenses, which have so

revolted members of the public, will be also take actions to curb the dependence of many members on set and incomes? i have calculated that the conservative front bench alone has 57 other sources of income up to 250 thousand pounds. will not be better if, instead of an alternative government with 57 varieties of special interest, that we all concentrated on the job which we are elected to do? >> mr. speaker, i think all members of this house want to show that they're undertaking public service and that things are not what they could debt or what they could give, but one of the issues that repeatedly comes up is members' second jobs, and it is right that sir christopher kelly looks at this matter. i see that there is some murmuring on the opposition benches. me thinks that they protest too

much. >> will the prime minister find time today to meet the pension action group, which is outside lobbying parliament on occupational pensions? is he aware that although many of my constituents or offer to 90%, the reality is that many will probably get less than 70%? why is that? changes he made when he was chancellor have destroyed what was once the best private pension sector in the world. >> mr. speaker, i already had a long debate in this house some time ago when i showed that the pension funds doubled in the 10- year period, and despite what he is saying, all of the changes we made made it possible for the pension funds to a large sums of money. the issue, however, as he knows perfectly well, is that pension funds income depends on weapons on the stock exchange, and imo's noted that is what has affected

most of the pension funds recently. >> i am sure my right honorable friend will have seen the latest scientific report showing that by the end of the century, global warming will be even more severe than previously thought. we have gone beyond the stage at which we can stop your browser but damages to our planet, and now the question is whether we can stop environmental catastrophe grief what will my right honorable friend do to ensure that the g8 summit, which is coming ashore, which recognizes this point so that we have the chance in copenhagen to get the type of agreement that the planets and desperately needs? >> we will lead the way at the g8 summit in proposing how we can solve the to the real problems that prevent a copenhagen agreement. first, we need an agreement on intermediate targets for carbon emissions reduction, and that requires us to persuade china and india, as well as america and japan, to join the group of people were prepared to commit to those targets. secondly, finance mosul provided

to enable developing countries and emerging markets to make investments that are necessary to reduce carbon emissions in those areas. we will come up with financing proposals which we hope other countries will be prepared to support, but i must repeat today korea and i think it is relevant, because tomorrow, people are voting on issues of europe, that that cannot happen without cooperation across the european union. those parties that want to break from european union, a leader in economic policy that works for britain, nor an apartment a policy. that is what we need, and we are going to push forward. >> does the prime minister agree that it is wrong to build on a grade two agricultural land? if so, when the change planning policy to prevent e-waste on the precious resources to and prevent also conservative- controlled test valley broke council is disgraceful plans to build on fertile green fields? -- borough council's disgraceful

plan? >> the honorable lady will have to write about that. >> did my right honorable friend note to the international monetary fund report? public debt in this country was lower than all of our competitor countries, that is lower now as we leave the recession, and that it will be lower in this country over each of the next five years? is not the case that the actions of this government prepared as to the economic slowdown in a way that the opposition's policies never would have? >> once again, honorable friend is proving that the problem we have to deal with is the global financial recession. britain is coming through that by taking the right policies. the opposition party of the first party, they are the first party to go into an election tomorrow with no policy to deal with the economy. >> mr. speaker, is the prime minister aware that is departing and secretary leaves a legacy