10 a.m. eastern here on c-span. >> i believe that the best way to carry on dr. king's work is to reach out to someone in >> on the 82nd anniversary of the birthday of martin luther king, watch ensure the program. >> the reason we have had to put up a value added tax is because of the complete and utter mess that we were left. i know that they are now in denial about this, but the fact is, we had one of the biggest budget deficits in the g-8, one of the worst records anywhere that you could mention. we had to take action, and the reason we cannot discuss calmly taxes and bigger bonuses, and we are not lining up behind greece and ireland for a bailout is

because of the action the government took. >> now, from london, "prime minister's questions," from the british house of commons. the return from the winter break, and prime minister david cameron responded on a range of questions about the economy. david miliband criticized about the lack of transparency, taxes, and bonuses. there is the 50% tax on bonuses. this is to be extended for a second year. >> order. questions for the prime minister. mr. david hanson. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i am sure the whole house would wish to join me in paying tribute to corporal steven dunn, from 216 parachutes signals squadron, who died on 21

december, to warrant officer class two charles would from 23 pioneer regiment will logistics core, who died on 28 december, and to private joseva vatubua, from the argyll and sutherland highlanders, 5th battalion, they will richmond of scotland, who died on january 1. these were courageous and selfless service men who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight to make our country is safer place. we send our deepest condolences to their families, their friends, and their colleagues. this morning, i spoke to the australian prime minister julia gillard to send condolences of everyone in this house and everyone in the country for the appalling floods and damage that has been done in queensland, and to say the we are all thinking of ross and the australian people. >> mr. hanson.

>> to take robust action on a banker bonuses. given that he has broken his first promise and is now reneging on his second, why should we trust anything that he says again? >> the reason we have had to put up a value added tax is because of the complete and utter mess we were left by the government, whom the right honorable john almon supported. i know they are now in denial about this, but the fact is, we had one of the biggest budget deficits in the g-8, one of the worst records on debt anywhere you could mention. we had to take action, and the reason we can all discuss, taxes and baker's bonuses, and we are not lining up behind greece and ireland for a pillow is because of the action the government took. -- for a bailout is because of the action the government took. >> in my constituency, cluster. -- would the prime minister

agree with me that the best thing now is to transfer the assets as soon as possible to the city council for the development for the benefit of the city, and can i highlights how much support there has been? >> the prime minister. >> i pay tribute to my honorable friend and what he does to help drive the regeneration agenda in a glove chester -- we have strong partnerships. >> ed miliband. >> i join the prime minister in paying tribute and condolences to those lost.

we pay tribute to them for their heroism, their commitment, and their dedication, and our hearts go out to their families and friends. i also join the prime minister in sending condolences to the austrian people for the floods and are affecting them. mr. speaker, in opposition, the prime minister said, and i quote, "where the taxpayer owns a large stake in a bank, we are saying that no employee should be paid a bonus of over 2,000 pounds." could the prime minister update us on the progress in implementing this promise? [laughter] >> what i can say is this. it was -- it was the last government to bail out the banks and ask for nothing in return. -- the last government who bailed out the banks and asked for nothing in return. this is because of the completely inadequate contract that was negotiated by the government that he supported.

what we all went to see is the banks pay more in tax, and we will see that. we want to see the banks doing more lending, and we will see that, and we want to see bonuses cut, and we will see that. perhaps he can make a constructive suggestion. >> mr. speaker, let me say that the country is getting fed up with the prime minister's bathetic excuses. he made a clear promise. no big bonus over 2,000 pounds. it is still on the conservative website. now, he cannot answer the question on baker bonuses. let's try the tax. -- a question on the banker bonuses. he is raising taxes, to be cutting taxes this year a on the banks -- this year on the banks. >> i know the shadow chancellor

willy cannot do the numbers, so -- -- really cannot do the numbers, so -- note [laughter] this year, they will be paying 20 billion in tax. their taxes are going up. >> ok, ed miliband. >> the payroll tax on the banks rose 3.5 billion pounds in addition to the corporation tax that they pay. his banking levied is raising 1.2 billion pounds. is ayone's language, that tax cut for the banks. why does the prime minister not just admit it? >> i will give you the numbers that the taxes are going up. $18 billion to $20 billion. now, let me explain the difference between his bank

bonus tax and our bank levy, because the obvious the cannot get the numbers from the man sitting next to him, so let me give him the numbers. the bank botas tax raise net 2.3 billion pounds, and the author of that tax is sitting right there, the former chancellor. you cannot go on introducing this tax year after year. the bank levy would raise 2.5 billion pounds each year once it is fully up and running. 2.5 billion pounds, even the shadow chancellor can tell him, that is more than 2.3 billion pounds, and with the magic of addition, if you have a bank levy every year, which we supported, and he opposed, they said, "do not do with," remember that? we will raise 9 billion pounds compared to his 2.3 billion pounds. even the shadow chancellor can work out that nine is bigger than 2.3. >> that is as big of an admission we can get from the

prime minister that he is cutting taxes on the banks this year. it is very clear. 3.5 billion pounds. he will be raising 1.2 billion pounds from the bankers levy. he cannot answer on taxes or bonuses. now, let's talk about transparency, and on this, i think we should listen to the business secretary. we know the business secretary is not a man to mess with, because he told his surgery before christmas that he had a nuclear weapon in his pocket, and he was not a free to use it. so we should listen to him -- he was not a free to use it. which is afraid to use it. -- he is not afraid to use it. "if you keep people in the dark, you grow poisonous fungus." on this occasion, he was not talking about the chancellor of the exchequer.

this is bonuses over 1 million pounds? it is on the statute book. it is ready to go. why do we not just get on with it? >> that was such a long question that i think the honorable gentleman should be thinking about a television career, and he should get his brother to run in the labor party -- labour party. look, we want greater transparency. he had 13 years to put these rules in place. why did he never get around to what? you know he has got no answer when he starts asking me questions. why do we not have these questions on transparency? >> let me tell the prime minister. he is now in the position of being more of a defender of the bank than even the banks themselves. even the chief executive of the royal bank of scotland went to the committee before christmas,

and he said, "if the walker report," which is a report that made recommendations," were to be implemented for the whole industry, i am not arguing against it. i have no great problem with the issue of transparency and would have no difficulty." the prime minister has had eight months to hold them to account. he has had eight months to hold into account. when is he going to start? >> i will take a lecture from a lot of people on how to regulate banks, but i will not take one from the opposition, let them get away with this. the was it that said the bank regulation that completely failed? who bailed out the banks and but nothing in return? agreed the royal bank of scotland contract, with nothing in the bonuses for this year? and by the way, the right honorable gentleman was at the treasury all the way through this. he was there when they knighted

fred goodwin. yes, wait for it, they knighted him for services to banking and sent him away with a 70 million pound payoff. that is why no one will ever trust labour on baking or on the economy again. >> planet redwood and planet cameron. there we have it. one will for the banks, another for everybody else. -- one rule for the banks. his health minister said, "i do not want you to trust david cameron. he has values that i do not share." the health minister knows that he is out of touch. the house knows that he is out of touch.

and now, because of his failure on the banks, the whole country knows that he is out of touch. >> i think the right honorable gentleman knows that this is just not working. we have ended up with a shadow chancellor who cannot count, and a labour leader who does not count. what did he do? he did nothing. what did he do when they paid out 11 billion pounds in bonuses to bankers? he did nothing. what did he do when they said they have abolished boom and bust? he did nothing. he was a nothing and at the treasury, and he is a nothing and now that he is trying to run the labour party. >> the coast guard in my constituency has helped more than 2000 people in the past year. it is earmarked for closure. will the prime minister meet a delegation from brixham coast

guard to hear about the importance of their local knowledge and skills, and to hear how we can avoid a fiasco similar to that of the regionalization of the fire services? >> there are proposals to try to put more on the frontline by sharing back office services and the way the we coordinate the coast guard. i know that they're a very strong local feelings. i will meet with the transport secretary but -- i know that there are very strong local feelings. >> tom greatrex. >> the prime minister is just confirmed to everybody listening and he is not taking any action on bankers' bonuses. yet, at the very same time, his government are removing the mobility element of disability living allowances for thousands of people who live in residential care. >> obviously, i actually said no

things. you obviously were not listening to the interesting exchanges we were having. let's be clear, we want a settlement where their examines go up, their lending goes up and their bonuses come down instead of posturing and posing about it. we're actually doing something about it. in terms of disability, in terms of disability, living allowance, this is an important issue. the intention here is very clear that there should be a similar approach for people who are in hospital and for people who are in residential care homes. that is what we intend to do and that is what i'll make sure happens. >> may i ask the prime minister to look favorably and flexibility upon community groups to hold street parties to celebrate the forthcoming royal wedding? >> i will certainly do that. i'm sure some of the large trade unit, everyone else wants to

have a well celebration for the alikes, and the diamond jubilee and the royal wedding. >> and i wish to give my condolences to the soldiers who died fighting for their country and charlie wood a supporter and our prayers are with the families. mr. speaker, the business secretary compromised himself over the takeover. his culture secretary has declared that -- or the prime minister knows it's the right thing and the culture secretary to repair the takeover bed to the competition commission. >> first of all, i think the honorable gentleman is entirely right to pay tribute and he spoke about him very movingly. on the issue of the responsibility for media mergers there is a proper process that needs to be followed. ministers have a quasi-judicial

role in doing that and i'm confident the arrangements that are put in place will do that. >> thank you, mr. speaker, as chairman of the all-party homeland security group, may i commend the prime minister and the government for having a very proper internal discussion about the future of control. given that president obama himself has been unable to deliver his pledge to close guantanamo bay, wouldn't it be ludicrous to suggest that some kind of simple answer to this problem and we look forward to seeing his proposals. >> we do face an enormously dangerousus terrorist threat and it's a threat the british judicial system have struggled to meet and the reason we all talked about reviewing control orders is we want to make sure the answer we come up with is good for liberty and good for security. i can see the shadow home

secretary nodding and i hope we can reach all-party agreement on this important issue. >> thank you, mr. speaker. does the prime minister think it's fair or reasonable of that training should have their ema support withdrawn for the secretaries year. isn't this a case of breaking our promises and letting them down. >> we will be replacing it and we want to look carefully on how best to replace it but there are two very important facts i think we have to bear in mind. the first is the researchers find that 90% of recipients of ema will be staying on at school in any event. and secondly, again with all-party support we're raise got participating support to 18. for those two reasons i think it's right to look for a replacement that is more tailored and more targeted and will help to make sure that those children who really need it get that extra money to stay in school. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i made the prime minister

understand that there is a huge amount of support for the uptick convoy veterans of world war to receive a medal. but does he also appreciate that in order for their remaining representatives of this incredibly brave group of men to receive this recognition in their lifetime and that the time to act is right now? >> i do. i have considerable sympathy with what the right honorable lady have said. it does seem to me -- of course you have to have -- you have to have -- yes, we given by consent. we do have to have proper rules here but it seems to me, people on these convoys served on these incredibly hard conditions and were able to serve for a very long time and there is a case that they have missed out and many are coming to the end of their lives and it would be good to do more than what they've done. >> thank you, mr. speaker. which does the prime minister consider to be a worst political

betrayal, a liberal democrats deputy prime minister not to introduce tuition fees but did but they promised to introduce a fuel duty stabilizer and didn't? >> i think you can topple those with an snp who said they would have an referendum on s & p and never did. >> thank you, mr. speaker. my local conservative council has announced a council tax freeze while protecting essential public services. now, there were many in the country and indeed some in this chamber that it's possible. what message would the prime minister send to those to be deny that it's possible for government to deliver more for less? >> well, i actually commend what my honorable friend said. the fact is, of course, we are making reductions in local government grant, although when

you look at the figures, what local government will get in 2013 is actually equivalent to what they get in 2007 so i think we should keep these reductions in perspective but i would urge every local counsel to look at what it will do by sharing services and chief executives bireducing back-office cost and take the money so they can reduce by less. >> with the government cutting 20,000 front line officers, will he give me that crime will come down on his watch. >> and the fact is only 11% of police officers at any one time are out on the beat. i have the figures for the north wales police and yes, of course, there are some spending reductions are being made and i'm answering his question and when it comes to the funding in 2011, '12 it will be the same as the funding they had in 2007, '8

so it's perfectly possible to have effective crime fighting to get police out in the street in north wales. >> given the rural nature and the impact of the record of them, will the prime minister look as what the chancellor is undertaking in june and offer a fuel stabilizes -- stabilizer. >> and we have looked at the rural areas and some progress was made on the budget issues. on the fuel stabilizer, yes, the treasury are looking at this because clearly there is a case for saying as the oil price rises, if it can be shown the treasury benefits from extra revenue, there should be a way of sharing that from the motors who are suffering from all prices and while we hear by all the chattering from the party

opposite, the last fuel duty increases were all increased in their budget. >> the disclose of the new passport of it will have a devastating on 250 families involved. and an effect of the economy of newport. can i give an assurance that no final decision will be taken until the economic impact assessment is published and considered? >> well, i know how important the pos part office has been to newport and how many jobs it has provided obviously we want to see diverse economies right across our country and that is what the regional growth fund is there to help achieve in terms of areas that are threatened with public sector job reductions. but i'll certainly look at the case the specific question and i'll make sure he has an answer. >> the prime minister will record his visit to my constituency hospital as part of supporting the campaign to prevent the forced closer of ame

and consultant-led services. does he agree with me that there should be no forced closures particularly given -- particularly given -- particularly given the fact that our local gp's are opposed to it as are indeed the residents? >> my right honorable friend makes a very good point. any local changes to the nhs have got to meet four tests. they've got to have the support of local gp's and strong public and patient engagement and they got to provide support for patient choice there were no tests like that under the last government that had these top-down reconstructions. there are no tests and they will be adhered to by this government. >>erny chapman? -- jenny chapman. >> the business secretary wants to moves jobs from darlington what is the prime minister going to do to stop it? >> we agree with the program that was started not by the last

government but actually by several previous governments of trying to diversify and spread jobs out of whitehall and into the regions and we should continue with that. >> order, i want to hear brandon lewis. >> it has been approved as one of the schemes for the gp practitioners. the local health teams with the officers. what will the government newer that we will deliver on this sfroj >> i'm delighted that his constituency is taking part in this pathfinder project. those people who say that somehow nhs reform is being introduced in one big start are completely wrong. there's 25% of gp's are going forward to make this work. there's huge enthusiasm amongst gp's to get this moving and i think it will show real benefit in terms of patient choice. and what i would say to everyone in this house, the idea that

there is somehow a choice of a simple life where you just don't reform the nhs, when you have rising drug bills, rising treatment bills and frankly a record in this country where we are not ahead in europe on cancer outcomes and all stroke outcomes and heart outcomes is not a sensible option. it's right to make this coalition and it is digging an unacceptable status quo. >> the prime minister -- the prime minister will be aware of the changes to the rescue and coast guard and a protector of the proposed closer of the coast guard station and the exchange of responsibilities to scotland. will the prime minister ensure the house today that the future of the coast guard station -- that it will be for air city rescue and that the people of northern ireland in northern ireland will be safe and secure? >> i have been lobbied sensitively about the rescue including by people from all

walks of life, if i can put it that way and i totally understand the need for air, sea, rescue. i think what matters is not necessarily who is carrying it out but are they fully qualified? and is it a good service and is that valued for money. >> in reviewing antiterrorist laws, will my right honorable friend ensure that there's a balance between the police having the powers and detention and arrest and making sure that there is a return to the rule of law as it is understood? >> i think my honorable friend is absolutely right. that we should not depart from normal procedures and practices in terms of british law and justice unless it's absolutely necessary. you have to defend every change in that way. and i think -- as i said earlier, we do face a terrorist threat that is materially different to what we face for the ira. we face a threat where people

are quite prepared to murder themselves and as many as they can at any occasion. so we are -- it is difficult to meet this using all the existing methods. that's why control orders were put if place and that's why their replacement is put in place that is good for their liberty and their security. i'm absolutely convinced that we will do this and we will do it in a way that has the support of the police and the security services and those who i pay tribute today from this dispatch box for all their work for keeping us safe. >> mr. speaker, we rack the valuable work that the armed forces do and from watching and protecting democracy. in some of the most dangerous parts of the world. and yet they see their own prime minister in their own country sacrificing democracy to a foreign media basis hear no evil, see no evil, can the prime minister explain why? >> i'm afraid i didn't quite get the gist of that question.

[laughter] >> so i'll have to -- the point i would make is the media regulation is properly carried out in this country and by this government and it will be done in a way that is fair and transparent. that is what -- that is what needs to happen, that is what will happen. >> the right to strike is an important one. and the hallmark of a free society. but with it comes responsibilities. will he agree that any union ballot that these two industrial actions will have the majority support of those entitled to vote? >> well, i know -- i know there is a strong case being made not in the least by my colleague the mayor of london for this sort of change. i'm very happy to look at the arguments for it because i want to make sure that we have a fair body of union law in this country. i think the laws put in place in the 1980s are working