>> tomorrow on c-span2, a discussion about economic trends of young adults and away the current economy will affect the middle class. you can watch live coverage starting in noon eastern on c- span2. and on c-span 3, a hearing on the global efforts to eliminate malaria and a look at the future of drug vaccines. >> it is so convenient to listen to c-span anytime, anywhere, with the freak c-span radio app. you get -- the free c-span radio app. c-span, it is available wherever you are.

>> british prime minister david cameron talked about the uk's public service -- public sector worker protests. he also answered questions on the tuesday's attack on the british embassy in iran. this is about 35 minutes. the cold facts are there in the spending commitment. we have nothing to apologize for and plenty to be proud of. >> order! questions to the prime minister! >> thank you, mr. speaker. i'm sure the house wishes to join me in paying tribute to riflemen sheldon steal from fifth battalion the rifle. he with a highly respected soldier who achieved a great deal and showed much potential during his time with the army. at this sad time arafat should

be with his family, friends and colleagues. his courage and dedication will never be forgotten by our nation. this morning i had meetings in addition to my duties with this house meetings later today. >> can i join the prime minister paying tribute to our brave servicemen who gave his life for his country? arafat's go to his family in a very difficult time. >> my constituency has high unemployment but great potential and promise two hundred million -- investment in motor's ford. can i ask him to provide support for enterprise zones as well as in england? >> i thank the hon. gentleman

but congratulate him for growing facial hair in november. very good way of raising the profile. we are committed to providing enhanced capital. our discussions are going to both administrations in their enterprise zones and do what we can to help. also add that we are electrifying and looking for improvements to, >> i am confident the prime minister would praise the courage and professionalism of the rescue helicopter. share with me the alarm of my constituents and many other colleagues in this house with personal constituencies that it is to be taxed.

will you meet with me, to discuss this urgent matter before a disastrous mistake is made? >> very happy to meet with my hon. friend and i know how important it is we have effective search and rescue facilities and incredible good work they do. this is the best way to deliver those services including how they should be paid for and it is important that work goes ahead. [shouting] >> can i join the prime minister paying tribute to riflemen sheldon steal of fifth battalion the rifles. a huge commitment and courage and our deepest condolences our with his family and friends. mr. speaker, in june the prime minister praised the head teacher for refusing to strike a. today she has closed the school.

she says this has been the most difficult decision of my professional life. i had faith and the government. i have not seen any progress. i decided to strike. why does the prime minister think the hardworking public sector workers many of whom have never been on strike before feel the government is listening? >> the reason people are going on strike is they object to the reforms we are making to public sector pensions but i believe those reforms are absolutely essentials and as the former labor pension secretary lord hanson said, and he said this, it is hard to imagine a better deal than this. what i would say to people who are on strike today is they are going on strike at a time when

negotiations are still underway. the right hon. gentleman refers to what was said in june. let me remind him what he said on the 30th of june. these strikes are wrong. these strikes are wrong at a time when negotiations are going on. >> mr. speaker, mr. speaker. >> order! >> i say to people who are engaged in orchestrated barricades, for whichever side -- very tedious and juvenile and the public to not wanted and needed to our. as the prime minister will be heard. that is all there is to it. >> they declared negotiations at the end four weeks ago. they made their final offer. they said they would make the final offer.

they haven't even met the union for four weeks. and what has the prime minister gone around saying to people? he is privately delighted the unions have walked into his trap. that is the reality. he has been spoiling for this fight. and the reason people have lost faith, he is not being straight with people. will he admit that 800,000 low-paid workers on $15,000 a year or less are facing an immediate tax hike of 3% on the pension plan? >> i know his entire party is paid for by the unions but i say it is extraordinary that what he has just told the house is completely and utterly untrue. the fact is there were meetings with the trade unions yesterday. there will be meetings with the

trade unions tomorrow. there will be meetings on friday. these discussions, these negotiations are underway. let me repeat again what he said in june. it is wrong to strike when negotiations are going on. and yet today he has -- backed the strike. his irresponsible, left wing and week. [shouting] >> mr. speaker. i am not going to demonize -- [shouting] >> people who earn in a week for a chance to -- [shouting] >> now. mr. speaker, mr. speaker --

>> members on both sides of the aisle need to calm down. if there are senior members of the house you think is a laughing matter let me tell them that it isn't. the public would like to see some decent behavior and a bit of leadership on these matters and so what i. the leader of the opposition. >> he is the one who went around saying he is privately delighted because they walked into his trap and that is the reality. and the truth is, mr. speaker, it is not just public sector workers who are paying for the failure of his plan but private sector workers as well. and can he confirm as a result of the constant attack announced yesterday's family on minimum wage taking home 200 pounds a week will lose a week and half wages? >> let me be absolutely clear. i will answer his question.

>> the prime minister's answer however long it takes will be heard. that is the principle of democracy. the leader of the opposition must be heard and the prime minister must be heard. prime minister. >> i do not welcome these strikes one bit. i think we have made very reasonable, very fair offer to public sector workers and that is why the former labor pension secretary said that it is hard to imagine a better deal. i don't want to see any strike. i don't want to see schools close. our don't want to see problems at our borders but this government has to make responsible decisions. let me just remind him and remind all house about the fact of public sector pension. anyone earning less than 15,000 pounds will not see any increase in the contribution they have to make. in terms of the reforms we are

making a nurse retiring on a salary of 34,000 pounds today, she would get 17,000 pound pension. in future she will get 22,000 pound pension. a teacher retiring on a salary of 37,000 pounds would have gone 19,000 pounds, will now get 25,000 pounds. these are fair changes and i will tell you why they are fair. we rejected the idea you should level down public sector pensions. we think public sector pensions should be generous but as people live longer it is only right and only fair that they should make greater contributions. what we are seeing today is a party opposite that is in the pocket of the trade union that has to ask their permission before crossing the picket line and takes the irresponsible side of trade union leaders that call

people on strike when negotiations are underway. let me answer his question about the low pay. >> order! order! can i remind the prime minister very gently there's a large number of members listed -- back benches -- >> i will wait for the trade union to pose the question and give my answer. [shattered]] i am proud of millions of hard-working people and lord ashcroft. [shouting] >> the problem is the problem is he doesn't understand his own policy. he doesn't understand there are part-time workers spending less than $21,000 who will be hit. 800,000 low-paid part-time workers, 90% of whom are women

and he denies it but it is true. is a reality. he is shaking his head but that is the policy. >> and of course, mr. speaker, he couldn't explain or justify what he did that every one of low pay with a miserable deal cooked up with the deputy prime minister cost 1 million pounds from tax credits in the autumn statement. they have no explanation for why they are doing that. >> order! >> i say to the hon. gentleman i don't require any assistance from him. the leader of the opposition will come to the question. >> another one. all unemployment at the time of the next statement on the forecast. you compare the end of this

parliament with the office of budget responsibility figures and let's just remember the office of budget responsibility's independence when he was sitting in the treasury. the biggest by the minute by the advisers that no longer happens. what this shows is there will be half a million more people in jobs, 90,000 fewer people on the claimant count and the unemployment rate will be 7.2% instead of 8.1%. that is the only forecast not riddled and independent and issued. let me as a -- answer the question of whether cable to earlier. the poorest people in our country. it is his party by the way that got rid of the tax on the working court. it is this government that has taken a one.1 million people lot of tax and frozen the canceled tax, introduced free nursery care for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds and gave us the child tax credit by 395 pound this year and next.

that is directed to be proud of instead of an appalling record of attacking working for. with child poverty going as a result of the statement yesterday the truth is he couldn't answer the question because he is too embarrassed by the truth. >> next year the education secretary -- he tells children to behave. whar doesn't he behaved himself? he is too embarrassed, mr. speaker. he is too embarrassed. 2.8 million people out of work according to the forecast on the office of budget responsibility because he is another conservative prime minister and unemployment is a price worth paying and because he is failing on unemployment and growth he is failing on bar wing. he told the cbi conference last

year, by 2015 we will have to balance the books. will he now our admit that on the central tests he set himself he has failed? he complains about the level of borrowing but his answer is to borrow even more. that is the other illiteracy. let me tell him what we are doing. because we have our plan to meet the mandate and me detests set out by their emergency budget we have some of the lowest interest rates in europe. >> that is right. for every percentage point they went up under labor that would be another thousand pounds on a family mortgage and 20 one billion pounds on the national debt. that is what you would get under labor and why it is this government that will take the country through this storm. >> mr. speaker, he is barring

extra 1 fifty-eight million pounds. the truth is his plan has failed. he refuseds to change course and he is making working families pay the price. at the very least we now know he will never, ever be able to pay again we are all in this together. >> the leader of the labor party has taken sides today. he is arm a side of the trade union leader that want strikes and not negotiation. he is on the side of people who want to disrupt our schools, district our borders, disrupt our country and went comes to bar when he can't even bring himself to say we are welcoming low interest rates. let me tell him this. the shadow chancellor, they are

all shouting in unison. [shouting] >> they are shot and on behalf of eunice and. let me just remind the house of what the shadow chancellor said about low interest rates. the shadow chancellor said long-term interest rates are the simplest measure of monetary and fiscal policy credibility. that is what he said and that is what this government is delivering. we are being tested by these difficult economic times. we will meet that test by getting on top of our debt and deficit. he is being tested too and is showing his wheat, left wing and irresponsible. >> winston! order! some people have interest in listening. >> thank you. i would like to associate myself with words from the prime

minister, 10 years on from the momentary intervention more than three million girls in afghanistan are in school. will the prime minister send a clear message that the rights of those girls should not be traded away in a false choice between women's rights and security when evidence shows women's involvement in post conflict resolution is essential for stability? >> can i wish my hon. friend and everyone in scotland a very happy finance day. she is very right to talk about women's rights in afghanistan. we often talk about security but without talking about some of the things that security is making possible and it is the case that in 2001 there were less than 1 million children in school and of them girls in afghanistan. today there are six million children regularly in schools. two million our girls. all of those who have been to afghanistan and met women and other leaders in that country who stand up for women's rights

know what an incredible job those people are doing and we are on their side. >> half a million more people will be on the job in 2013 than previously thought. terribly human cost but how much more will be lost and paid out in benefits as a result of his economic failure? >> by 2015-million more people in jobs and fewer people on the claimant count and unemployment rate but there is a serious point here because the figures do show a sharp decline in public sector employment. that is shown by the figures. there's a bigger increase in private sector but what i am saying to the party opposite, in fact everyone, if you want to reduce the amount of unemployment from the public sector you have to reform welfare which they opposed. you have to freeze public sector pay which they oppose and you have to reform public sector pensions when they are on the

side of the irresponsible trade union leaders. >> thank you, mr. speaker. is the prime minister aware there is a lot of financial here, taxpayers paid over 1 thirteen million pounds to trade unions in terms of paying some times -- in light of the disruption to hospitals and schools are they not trying to review that situation? >> i think it is time. the idea of full time trade union is working in the public sector. on trade union business rather than serving the public a don't think that is right and we will put that to an end. it is absolutely the case. i think the evidence today makes that stronger. >> why is the government freezing working tax credits which help the lowest paid workers including those whose wages are too low -- to make work pay? >> as the hon. lady will no,

we're doing with child tax credit we take this year and next year there is going to be a 255 pound increase this year which is the largest ever increase in child tax credit and there will be a further 130 pound increase next year. an increase of 1.5%. that is the right increase in child tax credit and instead of helping those families a genuinely helping people to get out of poverty and stay out of poverty. the helping nursery education or get low-paid people out -- it is even more valuable. >> thank you, mr. speaker. as the united kingdom borders are being kept open today by patriotic volunteers, will the prime minister consider imitating a robust action of the late u.s. president ronald reagan in relation to

air-traffic controllers? >> i do want to thank all of those people including a number of people from number 10 downing street who are helping to keep our borders open and make sure he throw working properly. i will report to the house that so far the evidence would suggest that around 40% of schools are open. less than 1-third of civil services actually striking. the early signs our contingency missions are minimizing the impact. we have full coverage terms of ambulance services and only 18 of 900 jobs centers have closed. despite the disappointment of the party opposite that supports irresponsible damaging strikes is a fact of -- [shouting] >> mr. speaker, can i ask the prime mr. if he came into politics to -- 3-quarters of a million civil workers most of whom are women and most of whom

have families. >> i can into politics to try to improve the welfare of people in our country. the fact is at the end of this public sector pension report those people working in the public sector will have farther pensions that most people in the private sector who are contributing that money to them. i know your paid to ask questions. you are not paid to wave as well. that is the point. and will calm down. you give the money back to the union than by will come down. >> will my right hon. friend join me in condemning the outrageous attack on our embassy in tehran yesterday and also join me in paying tribute to those serving in such difficult environments with such distinction. >> i certainly join my hon. friend in doing that and i am sure the whole house would join

me in praising the incredible devotion of our diplomatic service who often face great danger as they did yesterday in tehran. another one this morning to our ambassador. that should be the number-1 concern. the safety and security and making sure those are maintained. after that we will consider taking a very tough action in response to this completely appalling and disgraceful behavior by the iranians. >> order. close question. mr. graham allen. question no. 6. >> i lead a committee of cabinet ministers specifically to family issues including the importance of early intervention. it is central to what this government is trying to achieve. we do believe if you change the chances of the least well off you have a better chance of genuinely lifting young people out of poverty and keeping them there.

and take a close interest as my right hon. friend the education secretary and the chancellor in the work of the hon. gentleman and a real difference he has made in terms of prioritizing of the intervention in our country. >> can i thank all three policy leaders for their consistent support for early intervention and their generous welcome to my two reports. i ask the prime minister, early intervention with babies, children and young people a scheme for all departments in the next comprehensive spending review so not only will children be able to better their chances but government and the taxpayer will be able to reduce the costs of failure including education, under achievement, 120,000 dysfunctional families some of the discontent and many lifetimes waste on benefits. >> the hon. gentleman makes a sensible suggestion. we can look at that in terms of the next spending around but i don't want to wait for the next spending around which is why the

family committee that i lead and deputy prime minister said on as well is looking at how we can make things like the intervention of 120,000 most broken families, make that effective. government spends a huge amount of money on these families of we look at all the departments but we are not satisfied that money has been spent to intervene in those families to turn around to sold their really problems. we have a program for doing that our hope we will continue in this positive work. >> mr. speaker, the prime minister will be aware there remain 16 british territories around the world where the union flag still proudly flies. will he pledge to match his government, will he pledge her majesty's government will protect, defend and cherish the loyal subjects of all of those territories? >> i can happily give my friend

that guarantee and let me add the overseas territories will remain british as long as the people of those territories want to maintain their special relationship with us and union flag will continue to fly over the governor's residencies. we are increasing our assistance to overseas territories and orderly with we're doing in the airport and next year we will have the anniversary of the liberation of the portland island and that will be a genuine celebration. >> my constituent, jackie political contacted me to ask how she will manage the 3% tax on her pension. non pay increase until 2013 and dropping fuel and food bills. how is she going to see it -- feed the family? why is the prime minister making people like jackie paper is government's failure? >> i am afraid the whole country is having to pay for the failure of the last government.

but what i say to his constituent is we are trying to help. that is why we are freezing council's act and cutting the federal tax as well as taking $1.1 million -- 1 numb -- 1.1 million of the poorest people in increasing the child tax credit in the way i said and we will continue to take all those steps. what i say to her constituents and all the others is the most dangerous thing we can do right now is lose control of our debt as the interest rates go up. when this government came to power, our interest rates were the same level as italy. today italy's interest rates are 5% higher. if that was the case there would be higher mortgage costs and businesses going up and real problem in our country. that is the policy of the party opposite. >> what message does the prime minister have to thousands of people who worked in small