this is a big and competitive place with enormously talented people. it is competitive against its competitors, and it is competitive internally, and yet, "the washington post" has always been a collegiate place, and i have always thought of that as something i >> thank you very much. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2012] >> for a dvd copy, call 1-877- 662-7726. for free transcripts or to give us your comments about this

program, visit is at www.q-and- a.org. these are also available as c- span podcasts. >> tonight, british prime minister's questions with william hague followed by an address to a joint session of parliament by a aung san suu khyi >> coming that monday, and we will discuss being members of congress and the upcoming one

and congressional districts. "washington journal" live with your calls and tweets at 7:00 a.m. eastern here on c-span. >> while david cameron attended the g-20 summit, william hague stood in for him during question time members asked about housing benefits for low-income families an additional ways to spur job creation. he also welcomes aung san suu khyi to the uk. >> the revenue william mcrae. -- the rev. william mcrae. >> mr. speaker -- [shouting] mr. speaker, i have been asked to reply, my right honorable

friend the prime minister is attending the g20 summit in mexico. and mr. speaker, i'm sure the whole house will wish to join me in paying tribute to the servicemen who've lost their lives in afghanistan since the last prime minister's question time to land scorable james ashworth of the first battalion, grenadier guards, and rporal alex guy, first battalion royal anglian regiment. our sincere condolences are with their families and their loved ones. last week i visited our armed forces in helmand where i was once again reminded of the exceptional work on behalf of this country, and that work in these sacrifices must never be forgotten. >> mr.peaker, i join the foreign secretary and expressing our deepest sympathy to the families of our fallen heroes, and pray god will comfort them. belfast international is an invaluable asset to the economy of northern ireland.

the rd concerns however at this link is at risk because the landing slots are allocated to carriers rather than to regional airports. will the government urgently published a strategy that ensures our international airport links with heathrow? >> the department for transform will consult in our future aviation policy in the summer, and as for evidence on options about maintaining the uk's status as an international hub r aviation, he is quite right, the london to belfast link is important tohe current. are currently more than 18,000 flights per year btween the two belfast airports and the five main london airports, and i hope he agrees that -- air passenger duty rates for direct long haul flights departing from northern ireland will also boost investment and tourism. >> stephen metcalfe. >> thank you, mr. speaker. as my right honorable friend will know from my recent meeting

with the prime minister, the situation is becoming increasing difficult. [inaudible] and secure our uk supply, will he use the office to encourage a summit bringing together the heads of the treasure to explore every single app ipossible to keep this refinery open? >> well, i know you will -- this will be very disappointing thing at my honorable friend has been active on this. the workforce and the local community have worked tirelessly to help you administer to secure the long-term future of the refinery. we are keeping close contact with the administrator, so still looking at further options. working with task force as well, and the ministers have met with representatives of the workforce and local commend you. i will of course draw his remarks to the prime minister as well.

>> can i join the foreign secretarin paying tribute to lance corporal james ashworth of the first battalion grenadier guards, and purple alex guy of the first battalion royal anglian regiment. they died serving our country with the umost bravery, and we join him in sending our deepest condolences to theiramily and friends. whilst we noticed a long way to go before the people of burma get the democracy to which they are entitled, the fact that progress has been made is due to the extraordinary commitment and courage of one woman and during more than two decades of house arrest. will the foreign secretary join with me in expressing our utmost admiration for her? >> well, i absolutely will and i think it's highly appropriate to raise this in prime minister's question time. i think i was the first european

foreign minter to visit her, to visit burma at the beginning of this year, and found not only in reputation but in substance and absolutely ipirational figure. there is a long way to go as the honorable lady says, not only in bringing -- one of those continues. so we look to the government of burma to continue to travel on this road, to release remaining political prisoners. i think across all parties we look forward to giving a tremendous welcome tomorrow. >> i think the foreign secretary for that answer, and he's right to visit burma we needed to and whilst we support the suspension of sanctions on burma, with the reassurance that the position of the british government will remain that sanctions will be reimposed unless there s sustained progress towards democracy and the rule of law?

>> well, that is very much our position. i have said that in turn to the foreign minister of brma, and, indeed, we argued within the european union that sanctions should not be elected unconditionally but should be suspended. so tha they can be reimposed if necessary and progress comes to restart. so they have been suspended for 1months. of course, we will continue to review progress through that area. i believe,aving met the president of burma on my visit, that he is at least sinre in his intentions. that, of course, there will be elements within the government of burma were not so enthusiastic about these changes, and who will be alarmed about the success in recent by elections of her party. so we'll kep the pressure as well as the welcome for these changes. >> harriet harman. >> i think the foreign secretary for the swer, and for his commitment to keep up the pressure for progress. now, can i turn to domestic

issues, and specifically the national health service. this week the survey showed that 90% of primary care trust, because of the financial pressure they are under, are restricting access to treatment. is it going to particularly hit older people. how can he justify an elderly person with cataracts in both sides being told that they can only have surgery in one of them? how can you justify that? >> well, mr. speaker, it is totally unacceptable if they are rationing on grounds of financial consideration. the nhs medical director has written to tell them the only criteria of decisions must be clinical and not financial but if evidence is found that they're echoing that comes in the secretary of state can intervene to the department of health will look into any cases where the using financial conditions. allegations has been made before, including under the last government.

that should be welcome across the land. harriet harman. >> but there is evidence, and he still is not cting, and it's not just cataract operations. there are 125 different treatments being ration on the grounds of cost, including hip and knee replacement. what does he say to an elderly patient who needs a hip replacement, wait in pain, or try to pay and go and private, what disease they? >> well, i say three things. first of all what i just said before, in answering the question about rationing. secondly, that arbitrary restricting access to operations wasn't just happening under the last government. it was allowed under the last government, so in 2007, patients had to wait a minimum of 14 weeks for routine surgery. york nhs trust was told not to

operate on non-urgent cases until they waited a minimum 20 weeks. and i say a third thing, which is to any of those individuals, their gp, their doctor should be going to work tomorrow, not on strike. [shouting] and we on the side of the house and encourage them to go to work, and i hope she and all of that side of the house will say clearly today to those doctors should be at work tomorrow. >> harriet harman. >> we don't want patients to suffer so we don't want the gp to be going on strike, but mr. speaker, we are proud of what we did with the nhs. more doctors, more nurses cutting the waiting list, and it's always e same. labour builds up the nhs and tories drive it down. today, he's saying that he is 100% behind the government

health plan. but it's a dfferent story in its own constituency, isn't it? last month the foreign secretary took to the street marching in protest against the nhs council. and let's remind ourselves of what the prime minister said about midwives. just before the general election, the prime minister wrote to "the sun" newspaper, because professional of course they were all in it together, and he said, in the sunday said we will increase the number of midwives by 3000. can he confirm they have broken their promise on midwives? >> well, there was a long -- i congratulate her on not having the shadow chancellor here today which does help everybody here. [shouting] he is obviously -- the chances of the g20, the shadow jus as

for simply doing another opinion poll on what people think of him. [laughter] but on the question she asked, by the way, we could've told them them that for nothing. [laughter] but on the question, on the question that she asked i am glad she said gp should be at work tomorrow because she should tell thato her own spokesman, the honorable lady, who said she has a lot of sympathy and it would be a lot of public support for the action thathey are taking. so there's a clear division across the floor of the house. it is perilous for her to go into the affairs of another constituency because what is happening in my constituency has nothing to do with spending our health reform. but i'll tell her all about it secondly if she would like. [laughter] and we are proud, she says -- we

are proud of what's happened in the national health service when we look at average waiting time for both inpatient and outpatient are lower than at the last general election. [shouting] that the best performance ever has not been attained for patients waiting after 18 weeks to be treated. that the total number of qualified clinical staff is higher than at the election. that there are 3900 more doctors since election, and hospital infection levels are at their lowest level since the surveillance of them began. >> harriet harman. >> and he never answered the question about midwives, because before the election, the leader of the opposition was all yes, we can pick a since he became prime minister, it's no, we can't. services ratined, patients suffering, and satisfaction at a new low. that's the tories on the nhs.

the prime minister once told a secret some of his priority in ree letters. nhs. isn't it more like lol? [laughter] it obvious they took a long time to think about one. [laughter] i have set up the achievements of the government on the national health service, even that latest report which is sometimes been quoted by the opposition, said there's no evidence of a decline in service quality. and that infection rates have not noticeably -- remained relatively stable in most measures. reducing these are important achievements in the health service, andthey are a contrast with the health spokesman of the opposition. day in june 2010, a responsible

to increase nhs spending in real terms. and ey are a contrast with the number of managers doubling under the labour party. and contrast with the last hour in which nhs managers were si times as fast as nurses, and the huge contrast with whales, where labour are cutting nhs spending. >> mr. peter bone. >> mr. speaker, given the appalling behavior of the liberal mocrat cabinet members in not supporting the secretary of state culture, media and sport, with my preferred deputy prime minister arrange a divorce so that we can govern with conservative policies as a minority government? [shouting] >> i think --

>> order. i'm sure members having heard the question will wish to hear the answer. >> i'm sure they will, mr. speaker. may be deeply troubling to mrs. bones. [laughter] and we should all think he reassured me that is only talking about a political one. but as someone who helped negotiate the coalition and to values enormously our cooperation with the liberal democrats, i will not be advocating a divorce in the government. >> can the foreign secretary confirm that a part of italy, the uk is the only country in the g20 and a double dip recession? >> well, actually the actual fact of the matter is that the imf now forecast in the coming to the british economy -- [shouting] they may not want to know what is going to happen from the imf.

the shadow chancellor again is not here with his hand gestures but is always said we should take notice of the imf, and they say that in the coming year that the british economy is going to grow faster than the german or french economy. that next yeargrowth in the british economy will be similar to that of the united states, and twice that of the eurozone. and that would not be happening had we not brought the excessive deficits and debt of the last government under control. >> thank you, mr. speaker. in light of the historic signing in china for record investments, also the granting of the turnaround in liverpool and the support of the automotive industries and saving -- would you say this government had done more in two years to expand on this side of labour did in its entire tenure?

>> well, yes, i would. i would say exactly that. and i would point out that that success which he described his part in the las two years of brith exports to brazil going up 37%, british exports to china going up 61%, kurdish exports to india going up 73%, and that is also because the british government is out there championing british business which the other side neglected to do. >> thank you, mr. speaker. can the secretary of state inform the house why he proposals, -- [inaudible] to be paid substantial wage -- naudible] >> well, this is an issue that the paid review bodies are now examining them as the honorable member will kow.

they will report next month, but the case for local pay, and they will make the recommendation, we can all debate that. the case for local pay was once made by chancellor of the exchequer, who said it makes him to recognize a more considered approach to local and regional conditions is the best modern route to full employment in our country. that chancellor of the exchequer wants his neighbor -- [inaudible] >> order. i'm sure conservative backbenchers wish to hear from one of the coalition colleagues. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the departnt of health accepts thapy as the cheapest and most effective when treating cancer, despite this the department will spend over 1.5 billion pounds on cancer drugs this year but less than a third of that on saturday. in the southwest, hospitals rely

on charity for the services. the cancer drug -- >> order, order your order. a one sentence question and a short sentence work. >> said to the right honorable gentleman, about authorizing the investments of the unused money. hospitals in my region dashed expect my on both rent is right to point to the importance of radiotherapy. of course, it's also important to stress the decisions on treatment should be made by clinicians based on whatever is most appropriate for their patients. but we are investing over 150 million pounds more over the next four years to expand radiotherapy capacity. and i know my honorable friend will welcome that, as well a the fact that at the same time, over 12 and have thousand extra patients have benefited from the 650 million-pound cancer drug

fund introduced by this government. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the regional growth fund in the government's flagship scheme for boosting jobs and growth in the region, the recent national audit office report criticizes to spending too much money on project creating too few jobs. in some cases 200,000 pounds per job. what is the government doing about it? no, the members own region will benefit, including 235 million pounds from the regional growth fund. of course, it is important that money is spent effectively, and i -- will do that utmost to ensure that it is happening, but it also is important to remember that is region benefits from so many other things the government is doing, including infrastructure projects that support growth and the west midlands, and enterprise own in birmingham, and enterprise own for the black country, and these measures are much more likely to get regional growth going in the

excessive tax and spending of the party opposite. >> thank you, mr. speaker. my constituency has now lost 300 cattle, a scourge by the fact the last government did precisely nothing about the issue. whilst i recognize the extent of the work of this government has done, well my friend assured that when it comes to disease control regulation, there will be proportionately and nothing that is -- [inaudible] >> yes. my honorable friend raises an aboard an issue. its one of the most serious challenges facing the british cattle farming industry, and leisure around 26,000 cattle were slaughtered in england alone. we will be making an announcement tomorrow about how they intend to proceed on this subject. capital measures continue to be the foundation of our tb control

program but it's clear in some areas these alone are not sufficient, so i invite him to stand by for further announcements on that tomorrow. >> the foreign secretary will be aware that today the dalai lama of tibet is in london and will be visiting parliament this afternoon. on such an auspicious day, will he use ts opportunity to restate his government's commitment to the human rights of tibetans within china? >> we believe in this country and in this house, in the universality of human rights. and that is a point that i often make to chinese leaders, including the strategic dialogue that i conduct with china on an annual basis. we also have a formal human rights dialogue with china, which we do not shy away from raising any of these cases. of course, we do see, we see tibet as part of the people's republic of china. but also look for maning --

meaningful dialogue, and will continue to support that. >> the government has made clear its commitment to root out tax avoidance by public officials and civil servants. can the foreign secretary made clear -- that the government will be equally robust in rooting out tax avoidance by the corporate sector who do jobs for government or are employed by the government? >> yes absolutely. i won't mention to the deputy prime minister his slip. it's entirely between ourselves. and these four walls. yes, absolutely. the chancellor set out very clearly in the budget is absolute determination to deal with tax avoidance, and to do so without warning in future. and i know the chancellor if he

was you, he would say hat that applies to the corporate sector as well. >> close question. >> number eight. [inaudible] >> the government believes it is not asonable or fair that he should receive a greater benefit for benefits them working households. some cases it can be more than double the household income. and our changes will mean no famine on the to earn more than a working families average dollar, 26,000 pounds a year or couple and single parent household. this strikes the right of between supporting families and providing incentives to work. >> mr. speaker, -- [inaudible] job center to 900 families in my constituency, who have between them to the 4000 children, but their benefits will be cut on average by 200 pounds a month. this will either cause them to wreck or have to move.

the mayor -- >> one ascends. >> says he will not preside over the removal from london. why doesn't the government? >> well, i know the honorable man has long been concerned about this and has frequently expressed them. and i think it's important to stre that for all but the most expensive parts of london, at least 30% of all private rental properties, will be affordable. in london,der the system that we inherited, 0 families are receiving housing benefits of over 50,000 pounds a year. and that is not acceptable to the taxpayers of this country in general. our reforms are fair but housing benefit will still be paid to meet rent for almost 21,000 pounds a year. there's also 190 million pounds for discretionary payments to help local authorities with the changes, and including

assistance to renegotiate lower tes with landlord. but the principle, i say they can come it is not fair that people in housing benefit can afford to live in streets and homes with people out working hard are unable to live in of themselves. >> thank you, mr. speaker. wales is the only nation in the the without a single yard of electric light rail track. for the foreign secretary persuade the government to extend the track as far as -- not discard it would be great for jobs, great for wealth? >> well, i know my right honorable friend is working hard on a. we are committed to electrifying more than 300 miles of rlway route, which compares action with just nine miles electric light under the last government. an interesting contrast in infrastructure investment. the department of transport is currently considering a business case for electrification,

prepared in wales, and understand the decision will be made by the summer. and, of course, it will be too and was it is portable and on the assessment of priorities as well. >> mr. speaker, there's more work to do but for the third month unemployment has reduced in scotland, and for the second year in a row of scotland is the best performer location for foreign investment in the uk. with the foreign secretary take the opportunity congratulate the scottish government and scottish development international which is the lead agency that secures foreign direct investments? >> well, he is quite right to draw attention to the employment gures. we must never be complacent about and there was also much more work to do. but the right honorable lad didn't ask about, they do show quarterly fall in unemployment of 51,000, and they do show the rate of unemployment coming down. and importantly youth unemployment coming down by

29,000 in the last quarter. but long-term unemployment is still ring, and that remains a challenge. of course, scotland as part of the united kingdom is an attractive place to invest in. and i congratulate many scottish people and businesses on their work. they have that much harder work to do if scotland were not part of thunited kingdom. >>hank you, mr. speaker. while welcoming the students who come to this country to get a world-class education, then return home to benefit their countries, will my right honorable friend look on vice chancellor sibley they cannot compete unless students are given an additional incentive to stay on in thi country legally or illegally? especially last your 12000 students sought and were granted the right to extend their stay here? >> yes, mr. speaker, as my right honorable friend knows the government is in radical forms to stamp out abuse and restore

order, more out of control student visa system. making the immigration system easier for students, universities and the uk border agency to operate. so we are closing opus colleges and regulating the remainder, restricting the right to work here and bring dependence, and making sure that all but the very best go home at the end of the study. and on that basis, of course talented students from around the world are welcome here in the unitedkingdom. ..

mention his name you shall vote and so -- well it is going to rather exchange the prime minister's question time. welcome question from the member. reraise individual cases, of course and often do so publicly but will assess which ones to raise and when to do so, of course. but the human rights dialogue that we have china is very important and it's important that in china there is an understanding of our deep concerns about many of these cases. rest assured, i will raising them. >> the gentleman will -- mr. christopher. >> in the cause of debt reduction, the government is reducing funding to the police by 30% in real terms over four years, can my friends, therefore, show me that also of

the course of deficit reduction he will be insisting on the contribution to the european. >> highly doubt what that would be. decide by single decision of government but is the balance between large figures determined in other ways. he can rest assured, however, we will be far better negotiating about it than the honorable member the secretary sitting there. when he was prime minister of the europe, they gave away 7 billion pounds. for nothingin return and that have failure on the negotiation and leadership that we will not repeat. >> does the secretary agree with the members when he as caught in the new journal saying the new economic argument fr

regional. >> i think there is a variety of users to speak about regional and local pay and all political parties. th pointed out views he expressed on local and reasonable pay. it's also worth pointing out the last government in 2007 introduced local pay into her majesty's court and tribunal service. >> would my friend agree with me what a wonderful announcement it was to the future engineering jobs looking for 44 more jobs and -- [inaudible] 150 in the last two months. >> this u is indeed is the new honorable friend invement in this country. it is good news for them and surrounding area. it is good news for the long-term security of the country than we are ppa