of the significant fires raging in sweetleaf forced in my constituency in iraq now? -- in swinley forest in my constituency of bracknell? >> i certainly join my hon. friend in praising the fire and other services taking part in this difficult endeavor. as he knows, there are well tried and tested procedures to make sure that central government stand behind local government when there are excessive costs. >> will the prime minister tell us how many experienced police officers are being forcibly retired as a result of his 20% cuts to police budgets? >> the decision of the police of asserting -- police officer

numbers will depend on the decisions made by chief constables in individual parts of the country. we can see in case after case that there are far too many police officers in back- office jobs, doing paperwork and carrying out corporate development worker should be on the front line. responsible to constable's are getting those officers out on the front line to fight crime -- and crime is falling under this government. >> i do not know whether the province does not know the answer to the question or whether he chooses not to answer it. but we tell them the answer -- 2100 experienced officers with over 30 years experience are being forcibly retired. take the case of former beat officer martin heard. he is being asked to come back to the force and paid.

>> we're getting complete and utter hypocrisy. we know that time of the last election and they were specifically asked can you guarantee the mighty form the next government, that police numbers will not fault? he could not guarantee it. the question is not sure the budget be reduced. of course, it should be reduced. who will cut the paperwork? who will cut the bureaucracy. those are the steps we're taking. those are the steps his government never took. make sure we get police on the front line. those are steps we are taking, those are steps his government never took. >> mr. speaker, he's the guy who came along and not 12% to make cuts but 20% cuts in the police budget. it's his choice. why doesn't he defend it?

and perhaps the reason people are so angry is because the president came to the prime minister and he said these involve front line reductions on the eve of his election he said they will be sent packing. what he said about cases like martin hurd. had he just bro another promise? >> what the home secretary is doing is what police leaders up and down the country is doing to try to get more police on the beat in my own force on the thames valley that is exactly what is happening. and when it comes to defending front line services isn't it time he talk to labor local authorities like manchester city council who although the average cut in spending power in government are cutting services by 25%. isn't it the case that labour local authority are playing with their jobs. >> mr. speaker, he knows he

can't -- he knows he can't defend his broken promises on policing. and let's talk about the other broken promises led by the deputy prime minister. on tuition fees. we know the majority of universities are proposing to charge 9,000 pounds per year. can the prime minister tell us how many of them he expects will have their proposed fees cut by the office for fair access. >> that decision will depend on the office of fair access but the honorable gentleman talks about broken promises. the fact is it was the last government that introduced tuition fees and toppout fees. that we have from the leader of the labour party a new doctrine. we have a new doctrine about his attitude towards the last government which he announced in a new interview with the sun paper. he said i'm not going to defend what happened in the past just because i happened to have been in the last government. [laughter] >> presumably, presume bring we shouldn't listen to him just because he happens to be the leader of the opposition?

>> ed miliband. >> mr. speaker, once again, once again he doesn't answer the question. we know from the office of fair access, we know from the office of fair access they are not going to cut the fees of the universities. the assistant director said over the weekend we are not a fee pricing regulator. that is not our role. we wouldn't say to an institution we would only add a fee of x and y. on top of our broken promise not raise tuition fees, he's now breaking another promise on capping excessive fees. >> the fact is we're going to have to wait till july until the access regulator -- but let me make this point to the honorable gentleman. degrees haven't suddenly started to cut 7, 8, 9,000 pounds. degrees have always cost that much. the question is who's going to pay for them? we say successful graduates should pay for them, earning

over 21,000 pounds rather than taxpayers many of whom don't go to university, but i have to say to the honorable gentleman, he made a promise that he could have a fully cost alternative to our fees program by the end of the last year. where is it? another broken promise. >> ed miliband. >> it's what we've come to expect from this prime minister, mr. speaker. hazy on the facts and neighbor to give a straight answer to a straight question. i know how the energy secretary must have felt in cabinet yesterday mr. secretary. and what remember what they said a year ago to parties working together in the national interest. now what do we have? two parties threatening to sue to each other in their own interest. and what the public is saying on police cuts objects tuition fees, on the nhs, this is not what he we voted for. having broken so many of their promises a year ago, how can the public believe anything that they are saying in these elections tomorrow. >> even the jokes were bad this

week. the fact is what this coalition government has done over the last year is frozen council tax, capped immigration, introduced a pupil premium, linked the pension back to earnings, cut corporation tax and set up more academies in 10 months than the last government set up in 10 years. and with council elections tomorrow, people should remember the mess that labour left us in and resolve themselves, don't let labour or duty cancel what they did to our country. >> caroline dinage, caroline dinage. order, order. the minister for children is under no application to behave like a child. caroline dinage. >> thank you, mr. speaker. thank you, mr. speaker, does the prime minister agree with the comments of lord glassman, the

special advisor to the leader to the opposition that the previous government lied to the british people about the extent of immigration. >> well, i think the honorable lady makes an important point which the last government didn't tell it straight to people by what was happening in terms of imprison and it's fallen to this government to get it under control. something lord glassman is something i said many times there was very hard rhetoric combined with very loose policy and that was the worst approach of all. >> mr. jack straw? [laughter] >> thank you, mr. speaker, may i ask the prime minister if he shares my profound anxiety about the recommendation of the advocate general to the european court of justice for a european-wide ban on stem cell based on human embryos?

does he agree with me that were such a ban to be confirmed by the european court of justice, it would have profoundly damaging effects on our south loop base and on our pharmaceutical industries? and would he be able to say what constituency plans the government is putting in place to minimize the effect of any such ban? >> the right honorable gentleman makes an important point and i would like to thank him for giving him some notice. the point i would make is this, the house and the house of lourdes, we had an extensive debates on this issue to arrive at the policy that we have and i believe it's right to try to maintain the u.k. as a world leader. uses of human embryos are under protection. the legal opinion of the advocate general at the court of justice on the scope of this exemption is advisory and does not bind the court, as such the opinion itself currently has no impact on british researchers who we should keep this position

under review. >> jeremy la-froy. >> several businesses including some in my constituency have increasing investment. what does my might honorable friend believe that is necessary that manufacturing in the u.k. continues for the long term? >> well, my honorable friend makes an important point and we do want to see growth in the past for the. i remember visiting the plant. i was slightly unsuccessful from winning staff jordan he was in the last election. but it's plants that will benefit of our policies of boosting in projects and doing everything we can as a government and as an country to export countries and celebrate around the world. >> on the 35th of june last year speaking from royal the prime minister told our armed forces that he would enshrine the

military cabinet in law, why is he watering down that commitment to a useless referencing? >> i don't believe for a minute that is what is being done. what is going to happen we're going to clearly reference the covenant in law and then the covenant itself will be published and debated in this house every year. and i think it's absolutely vital that we're able to update and improve it every year because there are so many changing circumstances that our military personnel face and we are looking across government at all of the things we can do in health care, in education. looking at things like council tax when our soldiers are serving overseas. all of the things we can do, frankly, many of the things which the last government failed to do to make sure we look at our arms services personnel. >> jane ellison? >> thank you, mr. speaker. later this month the leader of the conservative leader for nearly 20 years moves on to be the chief of staff to be mayor of london. will the prime minister join me in paying tribute for his

leadership in delivering the u.k.'s lowest average council tax with top-rated front line services and urge more councils to follow suit? >> well, i thank the honorable lady and it gives me the opportunity to praise edward lister who has done a fantastic job and to pay tribute to simon milton who was occupying that position who i know is admired on all sides of the house with the work he did at westminster and the mayor's office. what has shown over many years is that it is possible to combine low taxes with good services if all the time you are trying to improve efficiencies. that is councils should have up and down the country when we have to make spending reductions. >> and with the commitments and the national which will help froevenz of first time buyers. what does the prime minister

doing to help of home buyers who are on unemployment, student debt and advising them and cannot have a deposit for the house. >> the proposal in scotland stands quite like for the proposal in what we had in first pie which is to help tens of thousands of people to get on the property ladder by helping them with the deposit which many families find it extremely difficult to raise and there is a real worry in our country that we see the age of the first time pyre getting older and older and so so many families are finding that unless you have family help behind you simply can't get on the housing ladder. we have to make sure you can't have the case. and i'll be interested to see what happens in scotland. >> steven mosley. conservative westchester council is saving millions by cutting waste, boosting efficiency and selling surplus property in order to help protect front line services. meanwhile, they are cutting back

on bin collections and maintenance instead. what does my right honorable friend the prime minister think can be done to help councils reach fair and sensible decisions? >> well, i would encourage all councils to look at costs that can be cut there are not on the front line. they are cutting council's allowances. they are cutting chief executive pay but i have to say there are too many council especially labour councils where you have chief executives paid too much and not enough paid on the back office costs so we can keep the services going. >> jack dromy. >> the government is cutting benefits. there is dismay in my constituency is cutting higher than others. can the prime minister angeles, therefore, the question put to me by my constituents, why do

the tories have got it in for birmingham? >> it is a coalition between conservatives and liberal democrats that have been doing a great job for birmingham, making sure the council tax is kept down, investing in housing, making sure there are good public services and many of the things we've done like the regional growth fund are targeted on areas like birmingham so i think he should go back to his constituents and after he goes back and apologize that he was the winner of a all-woman short list and the liberal democrats are working well in birmingham. >> in 2005, the previous labour governments agreed to hand back part of the u.k.'s e.u. rebate at the cost to u.k. taxpayers of 9.4 billion pounds over the lifetime of this parliament. has my right honorable friend seen any evidence of what precisely was obtained in return for this remarkable generosity?

>> my honorable friend makes an important point which is the repate -- part of the rebate was given up and it wasn't given up for any proper promise in return. we were told there would be a promise of real forth agriculture policy and it didn't appear and it shows me we have to be incredible tough in the budget negotiations both this year and next year and we go in the next framework in the next 7 or 8 years. that is the moment we have to make sure we keep the cost of this organization under control. >> calvin hopkins. >> some cuts are set to destroy half a million jobs in the private sector a similar number in the private sector with thousands more on the dole paying no taxes and dependent on benefits will decrease not reduce. as far as night further days we'll see a collapse for the tories and return of the labour government. would the prime minister enjoy -- will the approximately saying goodbye of his colleagues

sitting on the side of the house? >> anyway, let me -- let me remind him since this time last year, there are 400,000 more people in the private sector in jobs. that is what's happened from getting the deficit under control, getting the economy growing and making sure we teal with the mess we were left from the party opposite. >> apdrew sa-lou. >> is my right honorable friend that conservative-run central bedsford has been rated as the highest performing council of all its statistical neighbors by pricewaterhousecoopers and this isn't the type of example we should encourage more councils to follow? >> my honorable friend is absolutely right. that well run councils, making sure they're cutting pack office costs can provide good services. and when you look at the figures, i-not just that those conservative councils are doing

member on measures like recycling and her delivery. it's simply not true to say by cutting cost us harm services. you've got to be effective at keeping your costs down on services. >> next week -- next wednesday the hardest hit camp will be lobbying mp's in parliament. constituency with disabilities are bearing the brunt on the government's attack on welfare services and public services. will the prime minister have the courage to meet some of these campaigners face-to-face next week so we can hear from him next week so he can hear how they are having the impact on their lives. >> first of all, the most important line of defense to actually help people with severe disabilities and severe need is the national health service. and it's this government is putting more money into the national health service, 11.5 billion pounds extra, money that wouldn't be available if we had a labour government and we know

that 'cause we can see them cutting a billion pounds off the nhs in wales. in terms of reforming pens, i thought we actually had the support of the party opposite to reform benefits to ensure they are helping those who need the help the most >> jason mccartney. >> thank you very much, indeed, mr. speaker. last week i joined town fans fans to raise 200,000 for the yorkshire air mr. and mrs. would the prime minister join me in praising the town for raising that money but we also look spoke why the air mr. and mrs. tops pay v.a.t. on their fuel yet another emergency charity service doesn't? >> first of all, i would like to congratulate my great honorable friend for the bicycle feat and i would pay tribute to our air mr. and mrs. crews across country who do an amazing and brilliant job.

the e.u. v.a.t. directive makes room for the boats. , however, we are able to do more for charities, we did in the budget including the inheritance tax exemption which i think will make a huge difference for charities up and down our country and i hope he'll do everything he can to make use of that. >> mr. speaker, child poverty is a cancer which sees children in our society go up. friday and homes where parents can't afford to heat and the prime minister will be aware of the recent oecd report which says the great progress made is now stalled and yonkers once again is there. will the prime minister free with me that this is a moral imperative for me. will he tell me to change policy to ensure that our chirp, our innocent children, will not won't victims of government cuts? >> i do believe that it's a moral imperative and i looked at the oecd report and things

stalled under the last government in recent years. what i would say is this, first of all, despite having to take tusk decisions in the budget we did actually make sure that there's been no increase in child poverty as a result of those budgets but i think it's time for, frankly, a more mature cross-party debate for how we make sure you actually get people out of poverty rather than just actually look at the transfer of money between rich and poor. that's why we're looking at things like the pupil premium, free national education for deprived 2-year-olds and making sure that sure start is working properly because it's all those things that will actually help chirp out of poverty in a more sustainable way. >> this week the three top-rated councils are discussing extending their combined services to save 35 million pounds a year while still improving front line services. what can the prime minister do to encourage this approach

rather than that of labour-run business which is closing daycare centers, much closing parks and cutting mental health services in a slash and burn approach? >> i do think this is a very important point that i hope the councils up and down the country will actually look at. you have three large councils coming together and saving 35 million pounds because they're sharing back-office services and executive teams and the rest of it and, frankly, if they can do it as large councils who have big responsibilities you should have many other councils doing it in london and elsewhere. and until we see that happening, i don't think it's realistic to say that it's necessary for councils to cut front line services. >> mr. speaker, more than 100 years ago parliament legislated to make sure that local authorities provided allotments. healthy local food is a very good part of good british values. why -- why, therefore -- why,

therefore -- why, therefore, is the prime minister's government scrapping the obligation on local authorities to provide allotments. >> i was as concerned as the honorable gentleman when i read the report and immediately checked that is not the case. i think it's extremely important that allotments are made available. many people will find in this house where they ask their open constituents there are massive cancels for queues of growing their own vegetables and food. it's a great amendment and it has my support. >> the chief executive of conservative council has taken a 5% pay cut whilst in labour run they are cutting services to young and critical people. what can the prime minister to

have them run. >> this government has increased massively the transparency that councils have to go through. every council in the country now tops declare its spending of anticipate item over 500 pounds. and people have really found this useful in seeing how much council executives are paid, how much counselors are paid and making sure they appear town on these costs so i'd commend what is happening and there's still up with fret that won't make this information available. >> michael meecher. >> why is the government going to ramp up spending to half a total pounds to a tune of 20 million pounds pi 2015. >> what the government is doing is going to be control of government borrowing. that was the real crisis we

had -- it's an important point to make particularly on a day when we read about port goals going for as enormous bailout. it's worth reminding us we have a pig budget deficit than port goals does. the reason we're not where they are we cleared up the mess left by his honorable friends. >> i'm sure the prime minister has enjoyed the good weather particularly at the royal wedding. but just down the road are farmers who are suffering from potential drought and are genuinely concerned the lack of rain and their ability to abstract water may be limited. will he meet with me to discuss these genuine concerns about restricting water for our farmers? >> now, i'm very happy to meet with the honorable lady. obviously, everyone has been going the recent weather and it was fantastic that the weather was so good for the royal

wedding but farmers are facing real issuing -- issues. >> there's more that the lib dems will come up in tomorrow's election. what will prime minister have for his beleaguered deputy on friday? >> well, the point i would make we don't agree on a session. the reason for having a coalition government coming together, sorting out this country's problems in the national some is as good an argument as it was a year ago when we went into government to clear up the mess that was made by the party opposite. >> in the life of the royal wedding in terms of public

diplomacy does he believe it re-enforces the importance of a different narrative to the diamond jubilee of the royal olympics in terms of what it can to for the british reputation? >> well, i think we have a fantastic opportunity next year to show all faces of britain, both modern and traditional. we're going to be celebrating the jubilee and i think people will want to celebrate the incredible service that her majesty the queen has given over so many years of an absolute amazingly public servant but people also would like to celebrate the olympics and the sport and all that is best of britain. i think the royal wedding was a dry run for some of these events in terms of how we handle them and i think everyone in this country has a lot to look forward to next year. >> allison mcgovern. >> thank you, mr. speaker. many of my constituents worry about the quality of care older people especially those with dementia receive in hospitals

how does the prime minister think his topdown reorganization at the nhs will help make sure older people are looked after with real dignity? >> well, one of the whole aims of the changes we're making to the nhs must be to better link up the national health service and social service provision and local authorities in how we look after the elderly and all of us have seen too many cases in hospital where people who should be in either residential or nursing care all being looked after at home are stuck in either large district general hospitals or indeed in community hospitals when they should be getting alternative pathways of care. that's what the whole change should be about. as i'm finding when i go around the country listening to doctors, nurses and clinicians we must make sure we take this opportunity to get this absolutely right. that's what the reforms should be about. >> in last year's general election in essex, 49% of the votes cast went to the conservatives but 95% of the seats went to conservative mp's.

it was an outcome that embarrassed robert mcgarby. other than the essex is now a labor-freezon. -- labour-free zone. does the prime minister think that result was fair. >> my honorable friend -- the point i would make everyone had one vote and everyone counted once and he won and i congratulate and other he is >> each week that the house