new to you about lincoln, the nation's highest court, and the grave sites and lives of american presidents. to order, go to c- span.org/books. they make great gift for father's day. >> he expects us to believe that he thinks a three pound a week tax break will help keep families together. no wonder the deputy prime minister is sitting so quietly by his side. on this one -- on this one, nick agrees with me. .

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& join me in a tribute for those who have died in afghanistan. these were men of outstanding

skill. mr. speaker, we should be alarmed and shocked by the events. i can assure you the body of the gunman has been found by the police. the statement would be made to parliament tomorrow. when communities are suddenly shattered in this way, our thoughts should be with those caught up in the dramatic events, especially those killed or injured. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

>> the biggest concern is that appointed by the legislative. will you confirm that you will make all our lawmakers accountable to? >> i am grateful for my hon. friend for asking that question. i do not always give him answers that make him happy. there will be a session for the house can vote on. i am delighted that an agreement has been reached on the program. i can already hear what a talented is going to be how to achieve the consensus that we need, and i hope after all the promises of reform we can move toward a second chamber. >> harriet harman to.

>> can i join the prime minister in paying tribute to those in the royal marines and to the royal itinerary. they were brave men who died in the service of our country. we must never forget the sacrifices they made. may i support what is said about the deadly shootings in cumbria? we offer our deepest sympathies for the family of those killed and our strong support for the police, emergency services, and community in cumbria. can i ask about the israeli interception of the gods of flotilla -- gaza flotilla. this has dismayed friends of israel. can he tell what is the current position of the british

nationals who have been detained, and will he tell us how the government can contribute to international efforts to make the israelis recognize the blockade is prolonging the suffering of the palestinians and making peace in the middle east even harder to achieve. this must end. >> i thank you for raising the issue. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& i have spoken to the prime minister of turkey. we should do everything we can to make sure this does not happen again. i stress this towbin -- this point. in terms of british nationals, there are 42 british nationals caught up in this. i believe 37 of them have had

access, and they will need to come reunite with their families. she also raised the issue of international efforts to get the blockade open. as she knows, we shall do everything we can through the united nations, where it is absolutely clear about the need to end the blockade. >> we will be hearing a statement after these questions. can you give me an answer to another issue about prosecuting rape? we know it is often only after

many rapes the defendant is finally brought to court, and it is only at that point that previous victims find the courage to come forward. by making rape defendants anonymous, he is going to make it harder to bring rapists to justice. >> i know she cares deeply about this issue, as do i, and the fact that rape convictions are so low in this country is a scandal, and we need to improve on that. that means working with the police and working to help rape victims. on the issue of anonymity, i said on the committee that examined this issue. it was in the last parliament dominated by labor members, chaired by chris mullin. we came to the conclusion there was a case for saying that between arrest and charge there was a case of anonymity. we would be bringing forward

proposals, which perhaps can examine the debate. i understand what she says. it is important for the publicity around the case to bring people who have been raped sword. i think this presents a good way forward. >> doesn't he also recognizes that a single saying he -- to single of rape defendants sends a very powerful message to juries in cases that the rape victim is not to be believed, ended sends a devastating message to rape victims that uniquely of all victims they are not to be believed. >> the home affairs select committee came to the conclusion that in this case there was a case for extending anonymity.

we will be bringing forward proposals that can be debated and discussed in the house of commons during and we all want the same thing, which is to increase the number of convictions and send more rapists to jail i think that is this a for it -- to jail. >> i think that is disappointing. he shows no understanding of the progress that has been made, and he does not realize how seriously this will turn the clock back. can i turn to another thing, and that as the married man tossed tax allowance. it would cost half a billion pounds a year. can he tell us how that would contribute to cutting the deficit? >> i am a supporter of families and marriage.

i simply do not understand why so many european countries -- i often remember being lectured about how we should form a european example -- so many recognize marriage in the tax system, yet we do not. this is an issue we should bring forward. it is proposals in our have a coalition they will have the right to abstain on, but i support marriage, and we support so many other things in the tax system, including christmas parties. why don't we recognize marriage? christmas party spread what we recognize marriage? >> the prime minister knows that will not keep couples together. he just -- he is just hoping that will keep his back benches on the side. he does not answer how this planned tax cut helps to reduce

the deficit. >> if we are going to get control public spending in this country, we should attack the causes of higher spending, and one of the causes of higher spending is family breakdown. i think we should do far more to recognize the importance of families, the importance of commitment, and the importance of marriage. let me say this -- any recognition of marriage we t in the tax system would also be a recognition of possible partnerships, because a commitment is important, whether you are straight or gay. >> so he seriously thinks that a three-pound-a-week taxpayer, which would cost the exchequer half a billion pounds a year, will help keep families together? no wonder the deputy prime minister is sitting so quietly by his side -- [laughter] because on this one, nick agrees with me.

we don't need it, it will work, they should drop it. -- it will not work, ty should drop it. >> the lady has a slightly short memory, because when she was sitting here, an enormous recognition of marriage inhe tax system was introduced by the labor government, in -- wait for it -- the inheritance tax. they massively increased the threshold for the inhabitants tax, which would be transferred between husband and wife. -- for the inheritance tax, which would be transferred between husband and wife. why don't we do it for the lesser off? >> order. order. >> can i associate might right hon. friend with the to -- the tribute to those who lost the lives in afghanistan and those who lost their lives in cumbria.

what means do you hope to use to achieve the stated unnecessary objective to of the private sector -to expand sector and this is our objective to allow the private sector to expand in parts of the northeast? >> the hon. gentleman raises an important issue, because we will to make difficult decisions about public spending, and everybody knows that no region of the country should be singled out. but he is right to say that some parts of the country to have a very high dependence on public sector jobs. what we need to do on the budget that will come forward on the 22nd of an june is to bring forward ideas that will fire up the private sector. for instance, at the idea that any new firm established does not have to pay national insurance on the first 10 employees. i think that will help. but he is right that we should also be looking for ways that as we get the private sector growing, as we make difficult decisions in the public sector, how do we help those regions that could be adversely affected? this is something the government

is looking at seriously, because we want to take the whole country with us as we deal with the one under 60 billion-pound deficit -- 160billion-pound deficit. >> a lot of young men and women are serving in afghanistan and elsewhere at the momen. he will know that one of the most important things to protect our armed forces is to make sure they had the best training, technical and military expertis that is possible. will he therefore commit himself and his government unamguously today to be turning college in south wales -- to the training college in south wales that would save lives and the armed forces? >> i am grateful for the hon. gentleman's question. and what was spent time in south wales and with the military --

anyone who has spent time in south wales and with the military knows that there is a case for this establishment, but he understands that we have had to have a proper strategic defense review. we have not have one since 1998, and everything has to be included in the review. but i would say that if he feels so strongly about this, given that he was in the last government, there was the opportunity to give the project the go-ahead, and they did not do it. >> thank you, mr. speaker. now we know that the last governnt spent 1 billion pounds on advertising, es the prime minister -- is the prime minister surprised that there is no money left? >> we are not surprised, because of the lesson we got from the former chief secretary. i am glad he has apologized about the letter, but he has not apologized for the legacy. my old friend makes a good point. in addition, we have discovered a 320 million pounds being spent

on hotels, 1.5 billion on consultants, and one that did amaze me -- one department spent over 140 pounds per person on cut flowers and pot plants. you will have the lury of finding out which one. >> mr. speaker, four i schools across my constituency are in the last throes of building the schools for the future program. can the prime minister guarantee that this program will be seen through to its completion, which will help many of the construction workers in my district? >> i am grateful for the hon. tilden's question. i know he will be pleased to see that in making the 6 million-

pound reductions that we made, and many warnings were made about what that would mean, we have protected the school budget and made sure that schools and shore start are protected -- sure start are protected our plan when it comes to education is to make sure that new schools are provided and that we have real experts in the secondary sector in particular. that is what is about. building schools for the teacher is exactly what is involved. >> is the prime minister aware of my constituent was facing extradition to italy -- who is facing extradition to italy, and will he look at the matter urgently? >> i am very happy to look at this case, and i will discuss it with my my old friend, the home secretary, who is bringing forward worked on the whole issue of deportation. there are clearly the legal processes that have to be followed, but i will discuss it with my old friend.

>> now that taxpayers are getting a return on the enormous amount of money they are putting in, when does the prime minister indigent selling shares to friends in the city quiet -- envisioned itselling shares to friends in the city? >> i would much rather sell to constituents. there might be an opportunity to do that. clearly, there will be an important decision to make in rms of making sure on the one hand we get the maximum amount of money back for the taxpayer, who has had to put so much money into the bank, and all the other hand, we want a fully competitive banking system that serves business in this country so that they don't get ripped off by the banks, and at the same time, yes, i think privatizing those banks back in the private sector where they belong to help encourage private

capitalism once again. >> will the prime minister join me in congratulating the man from stratford upon event for his nomination as entrepreneur of the year? think about earnings, was the prime minister surprised that so many people inhe public sector earn more than he does parks ? >> i join my friend in congratulating the tournament he refers -- the gentleman he refers to. this is good for democracy and accountability to see how much people in the public sector are earning, and when people see how much people are paid in the public sector, the pressure will be on to keep top pay levels down. having said that, i think it will be worthwhile, and we will all holding our review to get this done, to have a maximum multiple, a maximum of 20 times earnings. you should not have people at

the top of the public sector spending more than 20 times people at the bottom. it is the kind of progressive idea that we are looking forward to putting on this side of the house. >> does the prime minister share the concerns of two schl teachers and a chesterfield who came up to meet this weekend that children from areas that have greater deprivation are going to support disproportionately from the 10,000 university -- [unintelligible] all, can if welcome the right hon. tunnel onto his place as a member parliament, -- what hon. gentlemen to his place as a member of parliament, because the person who had that seat wanted to spend more time doing politics. we want to help children from less well off the backgrounds by having a pupil premium, and we will make sure that it is well- founded said thachildren from the poorest, go to the best

schools. in terms of university places, we are expanding the number of in a risky places by 10,000 -- university places by 10,000 in number. >> thank you, mr. speaker. could i press the prime minister a little further on accepted pay? my constituents are outraged on the -- by the amount of money some senior managers are receiving. what can the coalition do to reduce this expe -- this exceive compensation? >> the first thing is by having transparency for the first time, we are able to see who was earning what in the public sector, and i think that will actually cause pressure on people with top pay in the public sector to keep pay levels and wn. in nhs specifically, our plans are about removing centralized bureaucracy, removing some money

of the centralized targets that have caused that bureaucracy to grow. our ambition is to make sure that people at the front line, nurses, doctors, people involved in clinil care, that is where it is, instead oo the increasing management we have seen in recent years. >> many of my constituents are employed -- [unintelligible] could the prime minister confirmed that the 20 million- pound plan will be honored to develop the next generation of electric cars? >> can i welcome the hon. lady to replace and said i, too, have visited the area, and it is wonderful to see the incredible investment that has gone in there, and the many jobs that have been created, not justn the plant, but the supply chain? i want to see electric cars being developed. we discussed that specifically. in terms of the grant, i don't have a specific answer for --

it is a funny old thing, you know? i will give answers instead of making them up on the spot but i would be delighted to let her know as soon as possible. >> mr. speaker, and noting the very high standards of professional care, can the prime minister lindh is support to -- hend his support to the union? maternity unit? >> this maternity unit was under threat from the previous administration, and our plans, putting money in the nhs, will follow decisions made by doctors about where to be treated, and hospitals across our country can once again breathe easy. >> to i associate my right hon. thend's comments about

tributes to the sacrifices made earlier? on the offset of a new parliament and new administration, to give a categorical assurance to our troops that they will always get the eipment and resources they need on operational duty, to the servicemen and women who are returning home that they will always get the help and advice they need to return to civilian life, and to the millions of wounded, that however long it takes, despite all the budget pressures, they will always get the care and compassion they need and deserve for however long it takes? >> cat i thank the hon. gentleman for his question? and i think the way he put it in terms of making sure we protect those onhe front line with everything they need, and in terms of looking aerheir families and helping those who are injured -- that is ere our focus should be. it is all those things, and all through the lifetime of those people. having visited some of the places, you can see the incredible work being done. but what we have to realize as a

country is not just getting the equipmento the fnt line, not just renewing the military, and, so actually we are serving our armed services, but recognizing that these people who had been injured so badly in iraq and afghanistan, they are going to need a lifetime of help. i don't think that the services realll woken up to the high demands that these people will place on all the health services. that is why i have a strong defense and health team that will work together to make sure we deliver for these people who have done so much for us. >> number 10, mr. speaker. >> afghanistan is my top priority. that is why we set up a national security council, and why it met on the first full day of t new gornment. in terms of the military strategy, we are six months into the troop surge ordered by president obama. that is to provide a

counterinsurgency campaign, protecting the people while tackling the insurgency. we back that strategy and we must giva time to work. there are signs of progress, such as markets opening up again and a better district government. we have got to support the military strategy with a political surge, of which the piece being launched in kabul poday is part. i spoke to president karzai today about a political solution where everybody feels that the government of afghanistan is a government for them. >> is my right hon. fend aware of the concept of the sovereign bridgehead. that could meet our needs in afghanistan for a fraction of the cost in life, limb, and expenditure, and would he consider taking a briefing on this subject in the present and, if possible, of thservice

chiefs of staff? >> i am grateful to my hon. friend for asking that question. i know he has great expertise about this area. i understand the idea of a bridgehead. i think that while it is worth examining, there are difficulties with it, which is the current strategy of counterinsurgency is about trying to protect the public in afghantan from the insurgency and to enlarge the area of the country where normal life can continue. what is in our national interest? that is what we should focus on, afghanistan that is stable enough and secure enough to bring our troops home. i will listen to his ideas, but the strategy we have -- we have got to give it time to wk. >> i am surprised at the reaction. are we not all in this together? apart from a small sect in favor

of strengthening the united kingdom -- the vast majority of us is like, distrust, and despite -- the vast majority of , distrust, and despise the liberal democrats. [laughter] is there no better than an aircraft carrier? >> i was eagerly awaiting the question on afghanistan sudley forthcoming. -- sadly forthcoming. >> what is the prime investo during to make sure that foreign nationals engaged terrorist activity in this country will be deported to the country of origin? >> i am grateful to my right hon. friend for raising this question. i think it is extremely important. when there are people

threatening our country, foreign nationals, but we don't have the evidence to prosecute them, it is essential that we are able to deport them to their country of origin. what i have asked the foreign secretary to do is to work to draw up agreements with as many countries as possible that we are able to deport these people and keep our count safe. all the effort, includi effort for myself as well, will be done to make sure we keep our country safe. >> i heard what the prime minister has to say to the previous question about the military covenant, and the veterans' group, how it is relieved to see in the coalition that document a commission to providing expert support for federal and mental health needs. but i was alarmed to read that the 2 million pounds set aside by the previous government for mental health needs was uer review by the present government. does tha mean, in fact, therefore, that the prime minister is able today to renew minister is able today to renew th