rebels and the continued support of arab countries in the region. later, he answered questions on university tuition fees and cuts in emergency loans for the unemployed. >> a question for the prime minister from jackie doyle- price. >> i am sure the whole house will wish to join in paying tribute to major matthew collins and lance sgt mark burgan. they were both dedicated soldiers who will be greatly missed. our thoughts and condolences are with their families, friends, and colleagues. mr. speaker, this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. i will have other such meetings later today. >> i would also like to pay

tribute to our fallen heroes. we have to remember the debts we owe our brave forces, particularly at this time. is the prime minister aware a motioners signed a congratulating the u.k. and cut, despite that organizations refusal to condemn saturday's violence? >> i thank the honorable lady for her question. we should be absolutely clear. the things destroyed in london were unacceptable. the police should have our full support for the way they policed the march and took the action they took. it is important for people to understand that you pay uncut refused to condemn the violence and opposition members should remove their names from the early date motion. >> i join the prime minister in

paying tribute to a major collins and lance sgt burgan. they did show enormous bravery and courage. all our thoughts are with their family and friends. may i start by asking the prime minister about the ongoing situation in libya? will he tell us the house. will he tell the house his policy on arming the rebels? >> before starting, perhaps on behalf of everyone in the house, i congratulate him and justine on their upcoming wedding and wish them a long and happy life together. the situation on the ground is extremely fluid. there is no doubt in anyone's mind that the cease-fire is still being breached. it is absolutely right that we keep up our pressure under u.n. security council resolution 1973. i can confirm that the coalition to action yesterday against regime forces harassing civilian

vessels trying to get into misrata. the raf flu 24 sorties. tornado aircraft destroyed artillery and armored fighting vehicle near sirte. i have said before we must do everything to comply with the resolutions. the legal position is clear. the arms embargo applies to the whole territory of libya. at the same time, 1973 allows all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas. our view is this would not rule out the provision of assistance to those protecting civilians in certain circumstances. we do not ruled it out but we have not taken the decision to do so. >> i thank the prime minister for that reply. i am sure the matter will be explored further in the foreign secretary's statement. i thank him for his kind wishes

on my forthcoming wedding, which i am very much looking forward to. i may come to him in the next couple of months for advice. i know he has organized memorable stag nights. let me turn to a different issue. that is the issue of tuition fees. the prime minister says that universities will only charge 9,000 pounds tuition fees in exceptional circumstances. can the prime minister tell the house of the 23 universities that have announced their plans, how many are planning to charge 9,000 pounds? >> i am sure there will be a free exchange advice. when i was the leader of the opposition, i would have done anything to have a honeymoon. he probably feels the same way. we do wish him well. in terms of tuition fees, the point about 9000 is well made.

universities can only charge 9000 if they go through a number of steps to prove they really are improving access to universities. i do not have the figures available, but i am very happy to give them to him. >> this is an important point. the prime minister reassured people when he was selling his tuition fee policy. it was in his own words that there would be a basic threshold of 6,000 pounds in exceptional circumstances. in exceptional circumstances, some would be allowed to charge 9,000 pounds. 18 -- more than 80% -- are planning to charge 9,000 pounds. it is not the exception. it is the rule. i am afraid this policy has not been implemented in a competent way. the next problem he faces is that it will cost the treasury more money to fund the loans.

can he guarantee that the much it -- of the money will not come from university budgets or through a reduction in student numbers? >> university tuition fees were first introduced by the party opposite. there are two important points on the threshold. each university will have to spend 900 pounds per place on access requirements. the second point is the office of access will decide whether or not they can go to the 9000 threshold. very tough rules have been published and placed in the house for people to see. in terms of the additional revenue and money that going to higher education, he is right. because of the system with introducing, we will be spending more overall on universities. the key is that because of the reductions in spending, we're having to make elsewhere, this is the only way to guarantee we have well-funded universities, well-stocked libraries, well-

paid lecturers, and good universities to take on the world. >> i was asking a simple question. where will the money come from, given that they have miscalculated the level of tuition fees? universities are worried that the prime minister does not think that and 80% cut in the teaching budget is enough and will come back for more. let me turn to another area of public services the government is not getting right. the police minister was asked eight times on the radio this morning whether the number of frontline police officers will fall. can i ask the prime minister if there will be fewer frontline police officers in the years ahead? >> according to home office statistics, if all forces to achieve the current best average for visibility and availability, that would increase the number of officers available by 8000. >> mr. speaker, i do not think

people will understand what that answer was supposed to mean. he should listen to the chief inspector of lancaster -- like a share -- lancashire who said we cannot leave the front line untouched. that is because of the scale of the cuts. 2000 police officers are being forced out under the rules. a sergeant said he wants to continue being a front-line officer. does he expect there to be fewer from officers in the years ahead, yes or no? >> there is no reason there should be fewer frontline officers. both parties agree that the police budget has to be cut. i heard a shadow chancellor. he said this, we would have made

cuts to police in." we have to cut the policing budget. the question is how to make the cuts. we say you have to freeze police pay for two years. you have to reform police allowances. you have to cut their paperwork. because to oppose those things, you would have to make deeper cuts in police numbers. that is the case. >> it is very simple. we proposed 12% cuts in the policing budget. he is proposing 20% cuts. if you go beyond 12%, is likely to cut frontline officers. that is what is happening up and down this country. the truth is used to claim they were the party of law and order. now he is cutting the number of police officers up and down the country. it is the wrong choice for the police. it is the wrong choice for communities. it is the wrong choice for the country as well. >> the right honorable gentleman is completely wrong.

the difference between a 12% reduction and what we're proposing is the freeze in police pay and the reform of allowances, that he refuses to support. has anyone seen a more ridiculous spectacle than the right honorable gentleman marching against the cuts that it was his government that caused? i know martin luther king said he had a dream. i think it is time the right honorable gentleman will go. -- i think it is time the right honorable gentleman and woke up. >> from his visits to cornwall, the prime minister will appreciate the high regard for the coast guard service there and around the u.k. i am reassured that the minister has said the current modernization proposals are not a done deal. does the prime minister agree that it is very important to get the plants right? >> i absolutely agree with the

honorable lady. i am sure that she and the whole of the house would want me to say how much we feel for our colleague who lost her husband is a tragic fishing accident. that illustrates the extraordinary risks these people in our coastal community take. our hearts should go out to her and her family. we want to make changes only if they improve the level of coast guard support that people in fishing communities and elsewhere get. that is what the reform is about -- trying to ensure that the real impetus is on the front line. if that is not the case, we will have to reconsider the reforms. that is why they are being reviewed. work with us to make sure that we get the maximum amount in those iceboats -- lifeboats and other ways of helping our fishing and other communities. >> does the prime minister a college the serious concerns raised about the adverse implications and complications for cancer patients under the proposals in the welfare reform

bill of replacing cma with personal independence payments? will he investigate the case for creating a straightforward cancer care and support allowance which would be available to those diagnosed with cancer and are either undergoing or awaiting treatment? >> the honorable lady asks an important question. we will look carefully at dla and its interaction with people with cancer. i think everyone agrees that it does need reform. there are 130,000 people on into have not had acclaimed revised it all since the benefit was introduced in 1992. there are 750,000 people who've had the same claim for 10 years and no contact from the department. there are 21,000 people of working age getting dla because

they are on drink or of drugs, so reform really is necessary. but making sure that we assess people with cancer properly is definitely part of the reform. >> can i congratulate the prime minister on what appears to have been a successful london conference on libya? what measures are being taken to assure that we can expand the coalition of countries taking part in the action to include regional players which is vital if we are to maintain regional support? >> it was a successful conference yesterday. my right honorable friend, the foreign secretary, will make a statement about it later. there were more than 40 delegations from the islamic world, and a common message from every one of the conference about broadening and deepening the alliance in enforcing security council resolution 1973. there was new support from the swedes who are making eight aircraft available. we are on track.

there is strong support for what is being done. we need to keep up the support, particularly in the arab world. >> families who have lost their jobs have been able to apply for emergency loans to tide them over. when unemployment is at a 17- year high and predicted to get worse, why this information show that the government plans to cut the phone tomorrow? why was this not announced in the budget? >> we're putting in place the biggest and oldest program to help unemployed people since the great depression. that is what the work program is about. the honorable gentleman should work with us to make sure that can help everyone, including those in his constituency. >> taking into account the high levels of deprivation in my constituency, coupled with the unrivaled potential of the east and the coast for creating jobs in the offshore energy sector, does the prime minister agree

that these prospects would be significantly boosted by the creation of an enterprise zone? >> the honorable gentleman makes a particular case. enterprise zone. i am delighted we have introduced 21 enterprise zones. there is a case to be made for more. there are real strength in his area in terms of green tech jobs he is supporting, and i am sure the chancellor will have heard his message. >> dozens of families in my constituency will -- were put out of their homes overnight as a result of terrorist activity. will the prime minister join me in condemning that terrorist activity? as well as supporting the police and army with resources, will the prime minister agree that as we approach elections and mark the first full term of uninterrupted devolution in generations is that the best

answer we can give to these people is to keep northern ireland moving forward? >> the right honorable gentleman has support on both sides of the house. we have to be vigilant against terrorists in northern ireland and elsewhere. he knows the british government will give the northern ireland executive every support it can. the best proof of success and that there is a non-violent path is to show the success of our democratic institutions. >> yesterday, counselors joined the scrutiny committee and were told by senior doctors that it leaves loses its children's heart surgery unit, ambulance transfers will be unsafe and could prove fatal. given that the report commissioned by the last government contains factual

errors and is a question of the impartiality of the board that made the final recommendations, will the prime minister agree to halt the process? if not, does he think the only option is judicial review? the honorable gentleman is absolutely right to speak up for his constituency that could be affected by the review. we want to make sure the review is as transparent as possible and involved and engaged with parents and communities. there are many times when bogus arguments are put forward for specialization. but in a complicated case such as child heart surgery, there are cases for specialization. we all want to defend our own hospitals. we have to think about clinical safety and what is best for children. he is right to speak up for his hospital, as i am for the one that serves my constituency. but we have to have some understanding about the complexity of what we're dealing with. >> does the prime minister

understand that unilaterally setting the minimum price for carbon in britain will drive investors out? carbon trading requires a common price and will he suspend that price incentives chancellor to negotiate a common price so that we have a level playing field for inward investment? >> and respect the honorable gentleman's views, but i do not agree with him. i think the steps taken in the budget are right. we should judge a company's by the investments they are making. i have been heartened that tata is putting more investments into the u.k. redcar will be a reopening because of investments made by tata. >> my constituent geoff jacobs

is in parliament for the prostate cancer charities action de to remind us that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. 10,000 men each year are dying of the disease. does the prime minister had a dream for better outcomes for the increasing investment in the nhs? >> the gentleman is right to raise the issue. it is a nightmare for many families, the fact that prostate cancer is such a massive killer. we need to do something about it. that means better early diagnosis, better testing, better access to drugs. all those things are contained in our plans for the nhs. >> the prime minister will be aware of the large number of women across the u.k. better in their mid-50s on low incomes. he will be aware that speeding up the equalization of the state

pension age will affect 2.9 million. many of them will have to wait two years. as a result, they will lose up to 10,000 pounds. these are usually people on low incomes and in marginalized economies. can i ask the prime minister if he intends to put in place any measures to cushion the severe effects on these people of low incomes? >> the gentleman makes an important point. the change in the pension age does ask people to work for longer in their lives. it is a big change. i think because people are living longer, it is right that we make this change to make sure we can have a good and affordable pension system for the future. the biggest thing we are doing is linking the pension to earnings rather than prices. someone retiring today will be getting 15,000 pounds more over the next. and there would have done under the old plan. one is done partly to pay for the other.

>> the last government left us with one in five young people unemployed. does he agree the new university technical schools will help to transform the lives of young people and are in a matter of social justice as well as economic efficiency? will he support lord baker in supporting a strong bid of carlow college -- carlo -- harlow college? >> a friend is right to speak up for the college and university technical colleges. i pay tribute to war baker for the work he is doing and to the chancellor to put extra money in the budget so we can have 21 of these colleges opening in our country. >> the coalition agreement promised that the nhs budget would increase in real terms in each year. since the spending review, inflation is spiralling higher.

we're now facing a real terms cut of 1 billion pounds for the nhs. what is the prime minister going to do? >> we said that spending would increase in real terms each year, and it will. >> as we approach. friday, we must reflect on the role of pontius pilate. will my honorable friend assure house on hyde park corner protesting about reductions in spending if he had been responsible for the economic mess that was the result of the reductions in the first place? >> my honorable friend puts it extremely well. far from standing on the shoulders of the suffragettes or whenever a nonsense we heard of the weekend, the fact is that the gentleman is sitting in a great pool of debt that was his

creation. he has no idea what to do about it. >> in 2009, the prime minister promised families with disabled children a crack team of medical experts to act as a one-stop shop to assess families and get them help they need. can he tell the house how many of these teams have been set up? >> i can tell the honorable lady it was something based on my own experience of having repeated assessments when you are trying to get help, benefits, and social work, is that in the special educational needs green paper that precise idea is rapidly becoming government policy. >> despite some local unhelpful party political mischief making about the future of our valuable sure start services, will the prime minister join me in welcoming hampshire county

council's proposals to protect front-line pitchers start services -- frontline it should start -- susre start services? >> the key thing is that the head of the services has said that there is money available in the budget to keep the services of been. the money has not been produced. >> i have been accused of giving out inaccurate information about conservative plans for the winter fuel payments. it turns out i was right and he was wrong. will he apologized to me? >> i cannot believe i accused him of anything. i had no idea who he was. we promised we would keep the

winter fuel payments. we've kept the winter fuel payments. we promised we would keep the cold weather payments. we have kept the cold weather payments. we promised to increase the earnings in pensions and we increased them. we said we would keep the bus passes and tv licenses. we did all those things. he did mislead his electors at the election. >> the award winning businesses are manufacturing businesses better doing so well that they want to move into larger premises. but they also have immediate skill vacancies that they need to fill. what can we do to ensure that people who are unemployed elsewhere in the country and have skills know of the skills that they -- >> we do have other people to

accommodate. >> the gentleman is right to raise the issue. i am interested in skills, manufacturing, and technology. we will have 250,000. ships over this parliament. we will have the university technical colleges that will make a difference. it is good news to hear about the expansion of manufacturing in his constituency. >> the welfare reform bill proposes to introduce a 50 pound civil penalty for claimants and make a mistake in completing the application form. at the same time, and vice agencies have stated they are facing a perfect storm of funding cuts. many fear that they will not be in existence to help the vulnerable in completing the forms. does the prime minister think this is fair? >> first of all, it is fair that the government is not cutting the money for exactly the reason

she gives. i urge all councils to do what my local council has done. that is find savings and bureaucracy to make sure you are putting money into the citizens advice. . the point she makes about fines, i do think it is right. it is far too much in our system that is lost from fraud and ever -- error. i do not think the taxpayers go to work and work hard to fund benefits which people are not entitled to. >> i would ask my honorable friend to display extreme caution in the supply of arms to the rebels in libya. the legal position is not clear, as the previous answer was eloquently made. the political consequences of doing so, particularly among the nearly 40 countries represented at the successful conference in london yesterday, is very

difficult to predict. >> my right honorable friend is right to be cautious and skeptical. i think this is a decision we should consider with huge care. the legal position is clearer. i think there are some strong arguments we have to listen to. i would say that yesterday, i met mr. jabril of the interim council. i was reassured to see that those people forming an alternative government in a gauzy wanted to be transitional. they are democrats. they are not tribal. they want to see a future for the whole of libya where the people have a choice over how they are governed. i was encouraged by what i heard. >> last week i had the privilege of meeting a group of 25 new women -- 251 in studying english courses. we desire that every migrant in

the u.k. speak the language of their new home. it can make a big difference for community cohesion. will he commit today to put in a stop to this government's shortsighted cuts to english- language courses? >> we are going to have to take some difficult decisions over student numbers. the priority should be to ensure that our universities can go on attracting the best and brightest from around the world. that is why we have said that there should be a post-steady work route. it does mean that we should be tough, particularly on the colleges that are not high regard. over the last year, around 90,000 students were coming to colleges that did not have proper regard at all. >> a multinational is applying