they cannot because of the 5 billion pounds because -- >> can the prime minister give encouragement to the university's -- >> the hon. gentleman makes an extremely good point. universities in this country are world class and we want students from around the world to come to the the universe is to study because of the links that will make between our country and their country in years to come. we are not actually currently looking at limits on tear for in terms of immigration visas, but i profoundly believe we can have excellent universities open to foreign students and control immigration at the same time. last year, there around 91,000 students who did not go to the trusted universities but went to other colleges, some 600

colleges. i am sure that the extent of the abuse is very great, and a crackdown that abuse we can make sure there are many state and is coming to our excellent universities. >> can i join the prime minister in paying tribute to the warrant officer from the 3rd battalion? we should all remember those men for their heroism, dedication, and sacrifice and our deep condolences go to their family and friends. can the prime minister tell us how it is his authority going? >> i believe that almost every single member of this house of commons act fully backs what we are talking about. let me just explain what it is. the idea of devolving power to local authorities and beyond to

communities, that was in his manifesto, it was in my manifesto and the liberal democrat manifesto. i think we all support it. the idea of opening up public services for local involvement and control, again, it was in all of our manifestoes and we support them. i believe probably every single member of this house of commons spends time in their own constituency encouraging philanthropic giving and wanting people to play a bigger part in a bigger society. i think the whole house is united over it. >> mr. speaker, we all support thriving communities. that is why there is such concern up and down the country. what does and he listened to people who know all about volunteering, like the chief executive of the community service volunteers, the largest

volunteer in charity in britain. she said the prime minister's policies are destroying the volunteer army. >> obviously at i don't agree with what she has said, but i want to work with all those involved in charities and voluntary bodies to encourage them to play a strong part in this. we are putting 470 million pounds across the spending review into charities and voluntary bodies. we are establishing a transition fund to help charities affected by cuts, and something i can tell him for the first time today, because of our deal with the banks, the big society banks -- wait for it -- the big society banks will be taking 200 million pounds from the british banks to put into the voluntary sector. that would have got nothing out of the bank's. i am sure they want to stand up

and welcome that. >> mr. speaker, it does not mention that he is cutting billions of pounds from volunteer organizations of been down this country. let's take an example of where -- sure start. before the election, he promised to protect sure start. in fact, he did cut funding by 9%. the day care trust -- can he tell us how it is that helping the big society? >> first of all, let me say, they put money into the banks, we are taking money out of the banks and putting it into the society. i have to say, not for the first

time, he has not done his homework. the chief executive of the day care trust said this. the government has allocated sufficient funding for the existing network of sure start children centers to be maintained. >> order. these exchanges or excessively rowdy and i must ask members on both sides to consider what the public thinks of this sort of behavior. order. questions will be heard, and the answers from the prime minister will be heard. >> we have maintained the money for sure start. we have maintained the money for children's centers and head of the day care trust backs our view, rather than his. >> he has cut the funding and the centers will close over the funding month -- over the coming

months. they said that can make 28% cuts in local government funding and not affect any services. what does the conservative head of the lga say? she says they are detached from reality. there are four libraries aren't closing in his own constituency and hundreds up and down the country. can he explain to people who are concerned about this, how does he expect people to volunteer at the local library it is being shut down? >> let me just deal with his question on the shore start. the budget is going from 2.2 million to 29 7 million. that budget is going up. that is what is happening.

he puts a particular example, let me put a particular example to him. let me take the case of liverpool council. the cuts will mean that by 2013, they will go back to the level they got in 2009. what we are seeing is politically motivated move by labour government. i really the time when labor leader stood up to their labor counsel to make these decisions. because we are taking spending back to the level of 2007, i see no reason at all why they should not continue with the very well funded network of libraries. i think we all know the truth about libraries, which is those that will succeed are the ones where they wake up to the world of new technology, of the

internet and everything else, an investment goes then. that is what needs to happen. i think instead of sniping and jumping on every bandwagon, he ought to get behind them. >> and only this prime minister could blame the libraries for closing. he needs to understand why he thinks society is in such trouble. it is because of and down this country, libraries, community councils, those are at the very heart of our society. they are threatened with closure. it is going so well, why does his own party advisers say this idea is increasingly loathed by

the public? >> we have got their big idea. labor have published their fresh new ideas. the tree was chopped down and there's absolutely nothing in it. we all knew we wanted a blank page, but they have published a whole book of them. what are his great ideas? he hasn't got a single ideal for making this country a better place, and instead of sniping, what does and he joined and workers out how we could build a better society in our country? >> he should not get so angry, it will cloud his judgment. he is not the first prime minister i have said that too. >> doesn't he get to the truth behind the prime minister's motive? he says if you talk about

[unintelligible] if you talk about the big society, people might think your mother teresa. after what you have done to charities, no one is going to think your mother teresa. day-by-day he is cutting too far and too fast, and society is becoming smaller and weaker, not bigger and stronger. >> the problem with everything the gentleman has said is that all of the cuts we are having to make is because of the complete mess he has made. that is the background for this whole debate. we now know what they think of the inheritance they left us, because the shadow chancellor said this. i don't think we had a structural deficit at all in that time. that is what he said. by the eve of the financial

crisis, the u.k. had one of the largest structural deficits in the developed world. the first page of recovery is to recognize you have a problem. the truth about that party opposite, they doubled the debt. that bankrupted the country, and they are only message is, let us do it all over again. >> mr. speaker, my constituent lost both his legs and his arm while serving in afghanistan over 15 months ago. i am sure the prime minister and this whole house understand the debt we owe jack and others like him. with the number of british soldiers losing limbs, having increased by 40% from 2009 to 2010, would the prime minister agree it is important we find access to new resources to

ensure that the patients and staff can continue their excellent standard of work which is coming under greater pressure? >> the gentleman makes an incredibly important point about what is happening in terms of the number of people returning and duties, and important about what we as a slot -- important point about what mwe must do to support them. there is a new war that opened in september of last year. there is a 25-meter swimming pool, but we must go on making sure that this magnificent facility is continually improve, and we do everything for our brave, returning soldiers. >> just over a year ago the prime minister witness -- visited the maternity unit and founder midwives to be overworked.

he promised that with the conservative government he would bring about 3000 more midwives. could he tell us how he has gone about bringing those 3000 more midwives. >> the first thing i have done is ignore the party opposite and increased the in a just budget. we would not be making progress on any of these -- on the nhs budget. we do need more midwives and more resources. we are making sure that those are going in. >> will the prime minister reflect upon the decision taken in the house of lords on monday, supported by many senior conservatives, to enable parliament to have a review in the event of fewer than four in 10 people participating in the referendum? will my right hon. friend consider this compromise to be a reasonable one and consistent

with the coalition agreement? failing that, will he trusts his own backbenchers in a free vote to make judgment? >> we have not had thresholds' in previous referendums, but i don't think he should be down on this. >> all this and noise is damaging the chance of colleagues getting in. >> i am sure he will work with me to get the turnout up, particularly for the no vote. >> [unintelligible] the loss of 250 jobs will be devastating to the economy. would the prime minister agree to meet with myself and the hon. member's to hear the case personally? >> it is an important decision.

i know there's great work being done reflecting on what jobs can be saved in newport and liverpool where the two competing offices are. i am happy to arrange for her to meet my friend the immigration minister. he is actually the one who will have to meet -- make this decision and he can hear from her directly. >> we have made clear that we are committed to maintaining -- based on tried it. that is what we commissioned a separate study. the replacement of tried it is going ahead -- replacement of trident is going ahead. >> when the coalition was being formed, my hon. friend promised a meeting that the liberal democrats would support the replacement of trident. as we know, the key decision has

been postponed until after the next election. they have been boasting that this was their achievement. will the prime minister give a pledge to this house and to the country that in the event of another on parliament, if the liberal democrats' demand a price for another coalition, he will refuse to pay that price. first of all, that make this point. replacement of tried it is going ahead. the investment is going in. the reason for the delay is we had a value for money steady because we desperately need to save some money in the ministry of defense so we can invest in front line capability. that is the argument there. in terms of the future, i am in favor of full replacement for tried it.

that is conservative policy and will remain so as long as i am the leader of this party. >> with the respect, he chose to break his word on the educational maintenance allowance. why will this pledge prove any different? >> i visited the hon. gentleman's constituency. i profoundly believe that we should maintain our independent nuclear deterrent. i have looked at all of the alternatives over the years and i am completely convinced that you need a submarine base alternative, a full replacement for trident. that is my view and the view of my party and most of the people sitting opposite. i believe there is all party support for that move. >> the official reviewer of paris legislation said last week that this country had become a

safe haven for terrorists. will my friend give an assurance that this government will do all it possibly can to deport foreign nationals who oryx but we do who are suspected of being involved in terrorism? >> my friend is absolutely right to raise this point. it has been a concern of mine that we have not been able to deport people we suspect of plotting in the way that we should. i think lord carlyle has spoken and written about this extremely clearly. we have negotiated so-called deportations with insurance agreements with algeria, jordan, ethiopia, libya, and 11 on. in the in, we must do whatever is necessary to make sure we can keep this country safe. >> northern ireland is still being held back by some dissident republican groups. to deal with this, the chief constable has asked for upfront access to the reserve

allocation over the next four years. does the prime minister agree that if this threat is not dealt with, it will spread very quickly to the rest of the united kingdom, and will request or give the chief constable his request? >> i have met with the chief constable on several occasions since becoming prime minister. we discussed the security situation in northern ireland. we will do what is necessary to make sure the security and police and everything else is properly funded. i think is right now that these issues or divulge that there is greater decisionmaking, greater efforts to put money into the front line in northern ireland itself, but we always stand ready to help when necessary. >> the prime minister may well recall visiting the maternity department at fairfield hospital when he was leader of the opposition. last week, despite our pledge to keep it open and despite the

very useful new criteria issued by the department of health, the nhs in the northwest decided to continue with the the closure scission -- decision that was taken by the party opposite. is there a way in which we can keep our pledge on this matter? >> i am happy to discuss with my right hon. friend the issue that he raises. he knows what we have done is introduce tougher step before these reviews can be done. the whole point about the new system is that hospitals will drive local people use and value them. >> thank you very much, mr. speaker. in the last two weeks the government has rebranding [unintelligible]

and rick christens curfews as overnight residence requirements. this is not realize that no amount of rebranding will disguise the fact that a government proposing to cut police numbers by 10,000 -- reckless on terrorism and soft on crime. >> i notice that the party opposite has gone a long way to rebranding newsletter as old and irresponsible labor. i have to say the project is going very well. >> does my friend agree that it is enhanced by the denial of the front bench opposite? >> they went from a situation of

beginning to understand that they had left us with the debt burden. they were beginning to own up to it. now with the new shadow chancellor they are in complete and utter deficit denial. have not even taken the first step to being a responsible opposition. >> around the country, [unintelligible] are being closed without any consultation with the local community. will the prime minister instruct them to put a stop to such closures until they have had consultation with the local community? >> i understand the importance of these facilities in rural communities. the chief executive of the agency has said she will explore further how they can continue to offer the citizens in these locations, and i will get the

under secretary of state to contact the hon. gentleman to discuss this important issue with him. >> last week there was a memorial service for a constituent of the prime minister and a legend in my city for all he has done. would the prime minister agree with me that, and many others like him to have invested so much of their own money in our great sport to increase pride in our cities? >> i think my friend speaks very well as someone who live in my constituency and did not just invest in rugby but also in formula one. we should celebrate that, particularly in the region where i live for so many people are employed in this high-tech endeavor. >> does the prime minister [unintelligible] that he knows the price of

everything but the value of nothing? >> what we have is a consultation. we are listening to people's views. let him make a couple of things clear. we will not be doing what happened under the last government, which is the sale of forest with absolutely no guarantees of access. that is exactly what they did. i do think it is a good opportunity to bust a few minutes about the situation. the idea that all forestry commission for as are open to the public and do not charge is simply not true. there are many that have much better access, no parking charges, and very good record on habitat. what we have a consultation, we

should bust some of the myths that have been put out about this idea. >> the latest u.s. department of defense report to congress states the taliban strength lies in the afghan people perception that the taliban of the lee be victorious. is this not now the time for fresh thinking on afghanistan, which must include it in the americans to open talks with the taliban? canton out and fight at the same time. >> first of all, of course there has to be a political process. almost every insurgency in history has ended for some combination of military might and political process. where i do not agree with the gentleman is that this year, i think the taliban will see that there is no meaningful removal of u.s. forces from afghanistan. this will be another year where the taliban will be heavily defeated on the battlefield and will therefore make a political

decision more rather than less likely. >> why has the -- does he intend to honor the agreement with the arab forces? >> i do not accept what the gentleman is saying. the armed forces are actually excluded from the report in terms of increasing the contributions that people make. that me remind him first, we said we would double the operational allowance for people serving in afghanistan. we have done that. we said that for the first time we would increase -- introduce a premium for the soldiers' children who go to our schools. we have done that. we have said that your leave should start when you land back in the u.k., not when you leave afghanistan. we get done that. -- we have done that. >> i think the whole house regrets the regular enforcement

of tragic not crime incidents in this country. would the prime minister agree that anyone who takes to the streets carrying a knife does so with the capability to commit grievous bodily harm or murder, and what sort of punishment does he feel they should receive? i think our friend makes an extremely good point. we have to make sure people to carry knives know that the result of that is likely to be a prison sentence. we have to get tougher on what happens in terms of knife crime. we had a situation where knife crimes were met with a caution rather than having proper punishment. they were soft on knife crime. but the provisions of the health and social care bill were not costed before after the election. given the extension of commercial providers, is it a case that the nhs are not safe

in the hands of the government? >> i cannot do any better than quote the shadow secretary of state for help about our plans. he said this. no one in the house of commons knows more about the nhs and andrew. no one has visited more of the nhs or talk to more people who work there. these plans are consistent, coherent, and comprehensive. i would expect nothing less from him. that is labor's shadow health secretary. i could not put it better myself. >> last week the government committed over 100 million pounds into the [unintelligible]

which promises to bring much needed jobs and businesses to my lancashire.e a sur >> my friend makes a very good point. we have prioritized spending on capital infrastructure including the scheme that he talked about. it is very important as we go for broke and our company, we put money into our roads and railways and things that are actually going to help our economy to grow. that is exactly what we are doing in his constituency and many others across the country. >> the prime minister insists that the financial crisis was caused by lack of regulation, but even after the collapse, he complained that the less government subject to the banks to excessive bureaucracy and to much regulation. he said