we especially remember all those who have given their lives in the service of our country, both in recent years and three previous generations. the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women or our peace and freedom was never be forgotten. mr. speaker, on a much happier note, on behalf of the government, may i extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes to the leader of the opposition and his partner, just seen, heard on the birth of their baby boy. it is wonderful news and we really are thrilled for them. >> thank you, mr. speaker. a 12-year-old was injected with contaminated blood ruct products, giving him h.i.v., hepatitis c, and when will he and the 2,000 other survivors of this shocking scandal get fair compensation?

>> i know that my honorable friend is a vigorous campaigner for all those whose lives have been so tragically affected, but it really is a dreadful, dreadful catastrophe for those affected. we do intend to report on the outcome of the current review to see what can be done for those affected by contaminated blood by the end of the year, and the minister for health will also hold an opening meeting where all members from all sides of the house can raise any concerns they have tomorrow. >> the leader of the opposition. >> mr. speaker, i'd like to join the deputy prime minister in paying tribute to senior aircraftsman scott hughes of number one squadron royal air forcreligion meant. -- regiment. we honor his family and we'll remember all our service men

and women on remembrance day. i'd like to offer congratulationsen the birth of their new baby. the deputy prime minister said it was his aim to end university tuition fees. can we update the house on the house plan. [laughter] >> mr. speaker, this is an extraordinarily difficult issue. i'm being entirely open about the fact that we have not been able to deliver the policy that we held in opposition, because of the financial situation, because of the compromises of the coalition government. we have had to put forward a different policy. >> i'd like to hear the update. >> deputy prime minister. >> nonetheless, we have stuck to our ambition, to make sure

that going to university is done a progressive way so that for those people who presently discouraged from going to university, bright people from poor backgrounds, discouraged by the system, are able to do so. that is why our policy is more progrissive than hers. >> well, inle glad he thinks so. i'll be going out and telling that to all the students and lecturers. in april, he says that increasing tuition fees to 7,000 pounds a year would be a disaster, what word would he use to describe fees of 9,000 pounds? >> mr. speaker, there's actually more -- there is more consensus than she concedes on the simple principle that

people that benefit from going to university should make a contribution for the costs of that university education. the question is how do you do it? do you do it fairly? do you do it in a progressive way? the proposals we have put forward -- those that earn the most will pay much less than they do. those that earn the most will pay a subsidy to allow people from poor backgrounds to go to university, and will for the first time end the discrimination against the 40% of people that are part time students in our university so shamefully treated by our government. >> none of us agree with tuition fees of 9,000 pounds. mr. speaker, this is not about the deficit. the chancellor says it's their wish by 2015, when this new

system will hardly have begun. this is not about the deficit. this is about him going along with a plan to shut the cost of higher education on students and their families. mr. speaker, we all know what it's like. you meet up with a dodgey bloke and you do things that you regret. [laughter] >> let's remember the labour party's record against tuition fees in 2007, introduced a few months later.

manifested in 2001. now have a policy to tax graduate, which she doesn't even believe in. maybe she'll go out for the students to protect the outside now and explain what on earth her policy is. >> as a result of his plans, english students will pay amongst the highest fees of any public university system in the industrialized world. and not to give yustes more funds, no. to retain the cuts he's making. mr. speaker, can he tell the house what is the percentage to the university teaching? >> i can certainly confirm that she and her body also have plans to make massive cuts in

the department's budget, which will affect higher education. here are a few facts. every single zpwradge watt will pay less per month than what they've inherited from labor. the bottom 25% of earners will pay much less in their contributions to the university education. part time students will pay no up front fees and not a single student will pay a penny of up front fees whatsoever. it is a fair and progressive solution to a very difficult problem. >> it looks as though he's been taking lessons from the prime minister on how not to answer the question. i asked him about the teaching grounds. the truth is it's a staggering 80%. 80%. no wonder he's ducking the question. the real reason he's hiking up fees is because he's pulling

the plug on public funding and dumping the cost on the students. isn't that why he's betraying his tuition fees. >> mr. speaker, the graduate tax that she advocates would be more unfair, allow higher earners to alter the system all together. we all agree across both sides of the house that graduates should make some contribution to the benefit of going to university. the question is how? we have a progressive plan, she has no plan whatsoever. >> but during the election, he was the one who held himself around university cam puses, and by the time the week was over, he had broken his promise. every single -- they vowed to

not put up tuition fees. every single one of them is about to break that promise. he must honor his promise to students and their families up and down the country. >> it's quite something to take lectures from the old lady about party management. part of the mutiny on monday. they're cheering her now. they certainly won't on monday. the truth is, the truth is, before the election, we didn't know the unholy mess that was going to be left to us by her party. on this issue, as in so many issues, the two parties on this side of the house have come together to create a solution for the future. two parties on this side of the house have one policy. they've got two policies. >> thank you, mr. speaker. in this international dialogue

about democracy that we are witnessing, all of my friends say to those that have welcomed the elections in burma, elections that were nothing more than an utter sham. >> i completely agree, they were a complete and utter sham. the conclusion of those elections were already decided well before they took place. reserved seats by parties put up by the military, simply swapping their military uniforms for civilian clothing, keeping their grip on the people of burma. she should be released when her house arrest comes up for review in coming days and democracy -- real democracy should be introduced to burma. >> given how important we all know consistency is for the deputy prime minister -- [laughter]

could he explain to the house why the pictures on the website leading the campaign against selling off forestry in scotland, at the same time as proposing it in england. >> accused of being a -- did the honorable lady make an impact assessment on those outrageously discriminating remarks? >> order. the deputy prime minister must be heard. and secondly, the public thoroughly disapproves of this level of destructive -- from wherever in the house it comes. >> i was making the point that any form of discrimination is wrong. on the issue as he knows, on this issue as in many other issues, there is a division of

responsibility. >> community rights, or will it be another british icon as planned by the previous government? >> mr. speaker, of course i'm very pleaseed, as no doubt everybody is, that there's such a strong community interest in the future. and the campaign has received a stellar backing for their campaign. and i wish their cam pain all the very best of luck. as he knows, the assets are owned by -- they're not actually owned by the government. my friend is currently considering proposals for a scheme that would allow the board to sell the port, so it would be inappropriate to come in any further on that decision. >> mr. speaker, augusta

westland is an excellent company providing skills and manufacturing jobs. sheffield forge masters is also an excellent company from providing skills, manufacturing jobs in york shire. why did the government decide to support one and not the other? >> well, mr. speaker, of course i agree with the honorable lady that both companies are outstanding companies. the difference, of course, is that the announcements to provide a second forge master was held 11 days before, when there was no money in this year's budget to make that promise. it was a promiseade by the previous labour government knowing that the check would bounce. we had made a decision on westland in light of our difficult controversial decision to consent to the public finances. that's the difference. >> the deputy prime minister may be aware that in response to the spending review, they

announced the wage cut of 27%. in contrast, the chief constable of lang shir is redunn about the. does he agree with me? >> my friend the community secretary has called in all local authority chief executives earning under 200,000 pounds to take a 10% pay cut. they need to make sacrifices just as everybody else is. i understand everybody's attachment. i think it would be a breech of the traditions of policing in

this country if we start second-guessing chief constable. what i think we all want is more visible policing. it can't be right that the system we inherited from the party opposite means that 11% of police officers are ever seen on our streets at any one time. >> gavin. >> thank you, mr. speaker. >> it's a shameful policy. he received a request to address the crowd, and as of yet, no response has been received. i'd like to give the opportunity to give such a response now. >> as you know, i meet students, leaders, and representatives all the time. i would like him to explain his policy.

there's no hope for future generations of students. >> you may be aware of the great work being done in norfolk. will they get a fair opportunity? >> i strongly agree with him. of course, renewable energy is one of the great industries of the future. we do everything we can to support those areas that want to exploit those opportunities. we've committed 1.4 billion pounds. we're establishing a green investment bank with the expolice sit aim of creating further investment opportunities in green infrastructure in areas where private sector investment is currently constrained. i'm delighted to hear about the businesses in the not for profit sector are working so

effectively together. >> in answer to a question that i asked the deputy prime minister's colleagues last week, he indicated that the major reason for introducing the fees was to change the way higher education was funded, to shift the burden from the state to the student. how exactly does the deputy prime minister square that with his party's view that this was a deficit reduction measure? >> as i said earlier, i think everybody in this house agrees that the funding is a mixture of great support from state and contributions made by -- we looked exhaustively as soon as we came to government at the option of a graduate tax being proposed by some members of the

party. and what we discovered was that would be much more unfair and would allow particularly higher earners to beat the system altogether, compared to the progressive system, which we are now proposing. >> it has hepped many businesses in my consistency in lancaster, which has helped achieve a delayed payment in terms of taxes. this is a valuable service. this agency should be providing as much flexibility and support as possible for a business so that we can get out of this recession left to us by the previous government. >> i strongly agree with my honorable friend, and i think that it is indeed, as he said, a very valuable and important service.

and it remains in place by the end of september this year, 371,200 arrangements have been granted, worth 6.38 billion pounds. that's extraordinary valuables for small to medium size enterprises who are indeed struggling and who deserve all the support that they require in order to power us out of this difficult economic environment. >> the minister has made it clear that all public funding will be withdrawn from none such subjects and universities. last wednesday, the minister for further education skills and lifelong learning told the westminster hall debate, and i quote, we will continue to support the arts through the subsidy for teaching and universities. who is right? >> mr. speaker, the statement to be made is very, very clear on this, but what i hope he

will accept is that the model of mixed financing for our universities from the government, partly from graduates, who, as he knows, stands to benefit on average hundreds of tens of thousands of extra earnings is one that we are preserving and building upon in a progressive manner. >> they provide very valuable support. hopefully they can get something right. can he please reassure me that the program will be refocused in the greatest needs? >> childrens centers do play a vital role. that's why in the spending review, we have announced that

the funding be maintained in cash terms, in terms of how that funding is alvate indicated -- allocated to reflect. the way in which that money is allocated is already weighted. so they get more funding than others. of course, local authorities have a high degree of flexibility and latitude themselves. and we don't propose to change that system at all. where are the higher education being paid partly by the individual and partly by the state. when did he change his mind? in the best possible scenario, if we have fan that'sic economy, does he still believe it's paid partly by the student and partly by the state? >> i find it extraordinary that she believes, that she can --

the questions about changing your mind on this issue, when her party says no fees in 2001, introduced them. said yes to the brown review, now no to the brown review. yes to some graduate taxes, but no to other graduate taxes. make up your mind! >> as the coalition continues to save lives in our economy. the businesses remain high on the government's priority. >> yes, absolutely. as i said in answer to the earlier question, that's why we have already taken a number of steps on the last six months to help small and medium sized enterprises, whether it's reducing the small profits rates of corporation tax from 21% to 20% from april next year, introducing the new rules

of any new regulation that comes in, another one has stob scrapped. it will be increased by 200 million pounds. that's real support for the wealth traders of the future. >> thank you, mr. speaker. on the sixth of may, hundreds of his consistents and hundreds of mine in sheffield were denied the right to vote because of current legislation. why has the deputy prime minister not taken the opportunity of legislating currently before parliament to change the law so that in future, all those in the polling station are allowed to vote? >> i'm acutely aware of the problem. visiting the polling station several times on that day. saw the huge cues of people who were in the end denied their

democratic rights to exercise the vote. the question is, what do we do about it? i just so happen to think in this particular instance, simply parting a law won't deal with the problem. the problem is a lack of resources. the problem is poor organization by the returning officer in sheffield, who acknowledged as much. that's what we need to address, not simply always reach for the statute chute book. >> if the partnership between schools and universities in the provision of teacher education is absolutely critical, and indeed the moment is working terribly well, europe's largest provider of newly qualified teachers. can he assure me that universities like mine that provide it will continue to have the leading role in the training of our teachers? >> of course, we must support

all those incity constitutions that produce the great teachers of the future. without great teachers, who are able to lift the aspirations of our young people, particularly bright young people from poor back grounds, who at the moment feel completely intimidated from going to university, i hope those teachers will explain to them that under the new scheme, there is a real road for them to live out their hopes and dreams. >> thank you, mr. speaker. yesterday, the national housing fed reagan reported that a first-time buyer in london needs a salary of almost 100,000 pounds to buy an average-priced property. in light of it, could the deputy prime minister tell me how many low coast homes will not be built in the capital as a result of his government's decision to cut the affordable housing market by 53%. >> what i do know is that we

inherited a situation. well, you don't like to hear it, but you've got to hear it. it's the truth. fewer affordable homes are built. more and more families ended up on the waiting list for affordable homes. we have a plan finally to put that right, to increase the construction of new affordable homes, but the party opposite never achieves. >> it's suggested that not one of the conditions for success exists in afghanistan. is there a more realistic assessment of the situation? >> i think we have stopped trying to produce realism. the implication of the

question, to recognize that there isn't a military solution for the conflict in afghanistan. it has to be a marriage of a military strategy, which applies pressure on those insurgents who want to disrupt the peaceful co-existence of communities with a political process of reintegration, of reconciliation, so that we can leave afghanistan. >> i was always told to address the person who asked the question. so to marry a political strategy with a military strategy, it is only by having those two in balance that we'll be able to leave afghanistan with our heads held high knowing we have done the difficult job we were asked to do in afghanistan. >> what are the promises that

the deputy prime minister kept? >> i'm not sure that was a question or just a line he's rehearsed over and over again the last few days. as for the issue of prisoner voting rights, there was a court judgment in 2005, which was then consulted upon over and over and over again by the previous labour government. at some point we need to bring our law into the line with those court judgments and that is what we are going to seek to do. >> thank you, mr. speaker. is the deputy prime minister aware of a report this morning that graduates herbing 25,000 pounds after the changes to tuition fees will only have to pay back the sum of 30 pounds a month? >> this is a point which the members opposite simply refuse to acknowledge. it will be 25% of the lowest graduate earners.

they will pay much, much less than they do now. that seems to me to be a strong indication of. >> the deputy prime minister, is he aware of the anger and frustration of the thousands of policyholders and will he address that, and will the business today, hopefully with his support and the support of people on all sides of the house, come to a more satisfactory conclusion for those equitable life policyholders? >> as he knows, there's no prospect of any compensation. he will also know that the confrontation package -- the confrontation package we've announced is far, far in excess of the compensation levels