>> now through election day, wash our coverage of the presidential candidates. next, prime minister david cameron takes questions from members of the british house of commons. then, " is briefed on a federal corporations for -- president obama is briefed on preparations for hurricane sandy.

tamara, -- tomorrow, bob beirsack looks at 2012 campaign fund-raising. >> it is a great source of information for the public. if you want to know anything about what is gone on with legislation, with policy, xi's van haslett coverage. i liked books tv. it is nice to see some of the people that you read about. kid does not offer commentary. it is just telling you the facts. you can make your own decision. the decisions are not being told it to you.

people who want to be engaged in society and know what is going on. cockbo c-span, brought to you as a public-service. >> during this week's question time british prime minister cameron answered questions about lowering energy bills and allegations of child sex abuse by a former bbc presenter. the prime minister told that under his government voting by prisoners would not be allowed to vote. >> questions to the prime minister. number one mr. speaker, >> thank you mr. speaker.

this morning i had meetings with minister and colleagues and others and in addition to my duties in this house. i hall have other such meetings today. >> can i ask my honorable friend whether he would ensure the government powers is used to investigate the predatory activities of the late mr. jimmy sapple? >> i think my honorable friend makes a good point. the allegations are appalling and shocking the entire country. and these allegations leave many institutions especially the bbc with serious questions to answer. how did he get away with this for so long. and the most important thing is the police investigation is allowed to continue. i don't rule out further steps but we do now have independent investigations by the bbc and independent investigations into the n.s.s. and the director of public prosecutions has confirmed his legal advisor will review the papers from a

time when a case was put for prosecution. and the prosecution specifically is going to consider what more can be done to alert authorities where there are concerns but a prosecution is not taken forward. government will do what it can do so this can never happen again. >> mr. speaker the prime minister told this house we will be lething for the energy companies to give the lowest tariffs to their customers. can he now explain how he's going to guarantee everybody in the country the lowest tariff? as i said last week we're going to use the energy bill to get the lowest tar riffs. that's what we want to do. now

i have to say to the honorable gentleman there is a real problem here. last year there were only 400 tar riffs. this is completely baffling for customers and while encouraging people to switch can make a difference. we need to go further. because i'm in no doubt we're on the side of people who work hard and pay their bills and want a better deal. >> the only people who were baffled last week were all his ministers. last week it was a guarantee from the prime minister and now we've read the small print and it's totally unraveled. another offer from in prime minister. why can't he admit the truth? he made up the policy and he got called out. we are going to use the energy bill to ensure we get the lowest tariff t. department

prime minister said the same thing, he wants to look at the detail. let me ask him about this detail. we have his entire energy policy laid out tonight. perhaps he can tell us. now he says he wants to scrap off gem. in government you can't talk jim. now he wants to pool energy someplace. in government they scrapped energy supplies. now he wants to refer the big six to the competition. then he said he wouldn't do it because it would be wrong. i'm all in favor of switching but this is ridiculous. >> let's talk about my record as energy secretary. i want to thank him for the document last thursday. it reveals something very interesting mr. speaker. while i was the energy secretary, the average jewel fuel bill fell by 110 pounds.

under him it's risen by 200 pounds. i'll compare my record to his any day. now let's go on look the part- time chancellor is giving advice again. and i'm coming to one of his favorite subject it is west coast main line. the former railway secretary now the northern ireland secretary told us about the franchise process. we've tested it very robustly and the former secretary of state of national development. she hasn't won the job but she's down the bench over there. she said the process is robust.

we learned about floors in the process were raised by the bidders as long ago as may 20th. can the prime minister tell us about the concerns? he wants to talk about his record as energy secretary. so i think we should spend a little bit of time on that. because the fact is gas bills doubled and electricity bills were up more than 50%. when he became energy secretary, the companies were making 25 pounds less per bill. when he left government they were making 55 times profit per bill. vested't stand up to the interest, he stuffed their pockets with cash. we've dealt with that -- by the way, sorry, while we're on this while we're on his energy record, he put in place in his

low carbon transition plan a policy that would have added 179 pounds to every single person's bill in the country. so that's when he gets up, he can apologize for that. >> members on both sides, calm down. >> even he takes questions to a new level. i asked him a question -- he wants to swap places, i'm very happy [applause] >> i asked him a question about the railway [inaudible] the mishandle ling of this process, the mishandling of this process has cost taxpayers up to 100 million pounds.

so which of the ministers that over saw the bidding is responsible for this. there is a proper independent investigation into what happened with the west coast main line. they have made a full statement to this house and explain what will be done so commuters receive a good service. but what the country will notice he wants to talk about the chancellor because he can't talk about the economy because he have no plans for the private sector. deficit talk about the because he has no plans to cut it. he can't talk about all the issues that matter to this country and that's why he stands up and tells the jokes. >> i think we can take it from

that nobody is taking responsibility for what happened on the railway. ministers didn't know the details. they didn't do the work and they got called out. they are just playing follow my leader after all which and this is what he said before he became prime minister "we must provide the modern alternative, clear, competent, inspiring" mr. speaker, where did it all go wrong? [applause] i tell you what has happened under this government in the last week, in police station, unemployment, borrowing. that's what's happening but he can't talk about the real issues because he's not up to the job. [applause] it's good to see the crimson tide back mr. speaker. this is the reality, he is living in a parallel universe.

it's been another disastrous week for his government. last week he defended the chief, now he's gone. he made up an energy policy, that's gone too. he lost millions of dollars on the railway. there is nobody else left to blame, it goes right to the top. it's only a bad week. if you think it's bad that unemployment is coming down. we think it's good. it's only a bad week if you don't think it's a good thing that a million more people are in work. that's what is happening in our country. every bit of good news sends that team in a complete decline. but i can tell him, the good news will keep coming. [applause] >> mr. speaker would my friend join me in the good news that

the [inaudible] congratulate the policing unit on that performance which has brought robbery down 31% in my area. police reform is working. [applause] >> my friend makes an important point. we've seen not just recorded crime fall by 6%, but also the crime survey crime falling by 6% and this is at a time when making difficult decisions about police funding and the changes we're making and tougher approach to criminal justice and public satisfaction with the police is going up. >> last year the prime minister said there was no reason why front line police officer numbers needed to go down. yet my constituents are seeing fewer police on our streets. isn't the real true that there are fewer police officers since he came to power?

>> what is actually happening is the number of neighborhood police officers has gone up by 263 since 2010. mr. speaker, last week planning permission was granted for a large retail park on between my constituency and the corby constituency. it will create 2,000 new jobs and a stunning nature reserve. labor are opposed to that development. will the prime minister tell the house who the people should support? [inaudible] >> that is a good point about how this party and this government who is getting

behind economic development. and as i just said every piece of good news is a disaster for the party opposite. they wake up wanting more unemployment but it's coming down. they want inflation to rise but it's coming down. and we can see the conservatives getting behind growth and jobs in the future. >> during the last election the prime minister made many pledges to the electorate. one was to rebound the economy. given that our economy lags behind the u.k. average and scotland in terms of key economic indicators. when can we expect announcement by the prime minister on the steps he's going to take to help rebalance our economy? >> i do want to see the economy rebalance which it badly needs to because the side of the state sector is so big. we are continuing to pursue the

policy of looking at a local tax rate for northern ireland because of the border with the republic. i don't think it's the only thing we should look at. we need to boost manufacturing and do all the things we can to encourage investment into northern ireland which i've been doing. >> mr. speaker, on monday i was delighted when the prime minister put his rocket boosters on rehabilitation. will he as first lord of the treasury ensure that the treasury stand behind the minister of justice as they deliver [inaudible] radical globally new cash consequences of [inaudible] for the next spending review period? we should be bringing payment by results to all of the criminal justice system.

i want to see payment by results being the norm rather than the exception. i think if you look to be fair to the treasury when they designed payment by results in the welfare system. they allowed them to spend the future receipts of lower benefit claims. and i'll sure they'll make sure we get better value for money and better results in our criminal justice system. >> last week from the dispatch box the prime minister said that services are catching hospital [inaudible] this week we've learned that the official review so called deduction is to get rid of many vital services in our hospital and reduce by 80%. the truth is [inaudible] >> what is true is you can always guarantee members will

get up in parliament [inaudible] what i said last week is right. >> 170,000 fewer people on benefits and a million jobs benefited. isn't it clear this government's plan is working? >> the laid makes an important point. the figures showed there are more people in work and women in work than any time in our history. and since the election the number of full-time jobs has increased faster than part-time jobs. we're going to continue the progress getting people into work, getting the long-term unemployed into work and cracking down on the unemployment as well. >> could the prime minister explain the difference the number of voting shareholders on clinical commissioned group

boards and the number of contracts that have been awarded to [inaudible] >> all contributions are disclosed and announced. but i have to say the donations the conservative parties get and the trade union donations is they effectively buy votes in your conference and they vote for your leader as well. they pay the money, they get the votes. that's the p scandal in funding parties. [applause] >> [inaudible] hundreds of millions of pounds because foreign patients the cost of treating them wasn't properly recovered. can i get assurances from my right arm friends that the home office will work together to resolve it this year? >> i can give my friend that assurance.

this has become too complicated about who should pay, how much and when. so i've asked them to simplify it. the i hope we can come up with a simplified system in which the public will have trust. >> .3 million pounds of cuts last year. and the prime minister said that was wrong. facebook e bay and star bucks have between them avoided nearly 900 million pounds. will the prime minister now take this opportunity to condemn their behavior as morally wrong? >> i think the lady makes an important point and that is an international problem that all countries are struggling with to make sure companies pay tax in an appropriate way. i'm not happy with the current situation. we do need to make sure we're

encouraging these businesses to invest in our country where they are. >> may i ask my honorable friend why as he told me on monday he thinks that the single currency needs a banking union because the prices is not being caused by the absence of banking unions but by the absence of a single fiscal policy yet if the fiscal union were introduced, it would be dominated by germany, that would lead to the death of democracy through europe. so [inaudible]

the abolition and return to national [inaudible] >> what i would say is i believe the insecurity in the euro is caused by both those issues he raced. -- raises. one of the problems in the euro zone in the moment is the different interest rates and part of that is because of concerns about the link between weak banks and sovereign government. it is only when you have a banking union you have security about these banks. we have a banking union in the united kingdom. we wouldn't treat banks differently because of where they are. i believe a working single currency will need a union and i think that is logical and sensible. [inaudible]

>> can he give us an update on his campaign to spread privilege? >> i would argue people across this house would recognize that my right arm friend his record stands for itself. >> order. the house must calm down. let's hear from mr. rob wilson. >> before the senate committee yesterday. i hope the whole house would agree both parties get to the truth. the details are sketch chi the bbc asking for full disclosure. will the prime minister call

for details to be published today so we can have a full confidence to the public and the victim can hear the truth? >> can i commend my honorable friend for the dedicated work he's done on this issue of making sure that all of these institutions get to the truth. to be fair to the bbc the two inquiries they've set up do, i believe, qualify as independent inquiries. the inquiry into the news night program is being cared out by head of sky news and the second more important of the practices of bbc is being led by appeal court judge. as he says it's very important these inquiries go where the evidence leads. they will have access to all of the paperwork and they'll be independent and get to the truth of all of it.

>> the prime minister refused to answer a question last week so will he tell us why he won't publish the e-mails or the correspondence between himself and news international so we can judge for himself. what is he frightened of? is there something more damming? >> i hate to disappoint you. it was this government that set up the inquiry and i've given them all the information that they've asked for. [inaudible] >> my constituents were informed of the first regiment has died in afghanistan. three months later she gave birth to daniel's baby. the army will not accept paternity without evidence nor release the d.n.a. without a court order.

will the prime minister help to expedite this case and will the army hold d.n.a. as another country like the u.s.? >> on the latter part of that question i will look at that. i was as shocked as he was when i found out about this case. i will do everything i can to expedite a conclusion to it. i our con deal lenses go to private wade's family. this is a dreadful situation. the minister of defense is aware of it. but the reaction from colleagues around the house when my honorable friend said what he said shows we have to move quickly. >> does the prime minister recall telling the house last year [inaudible] myself and the people that

support this bill so we can move this country forward? >> this government has an excellent record because we continue to commit to our international aid program to tackle those countries where it regrettably exist. i'll look at the bill he mentions and write to the issue. >> a number of employees in my state are calling for investors in one of the fastest growing parts of the economy. will he respond to their calls specifically for 2030 for the power sector? >> i'm looking at these issues. but we've taken the most important step which is to set the renewable investment into rocx so the offshore winds knowing what the return is going to be and there will be more detail when we produce the energy bill later this year.

>> can we refer the prime minister to may 2012 when the member for belfast asked the following would he give the taking they will not suck sum to the european human rights and prisoner voting and the short answer to that is yes. and can he tell us how he is going to do this without breaking european law? >> i give you that assurance. we voted against prisoners having the vote. they shouldn't get the vote. i'm very clear about that. if it helps by having another vote in parliament another resolution to make clear to put the legal position beyond doubt, i'm happy to do that. prisoners are 23409 getting to vote under this government. [applause]

>> mr. speaker, is the prime minister aware last year there was a referendum run about energy to waste incinerator. is he aware 65,000 616 of my constituents voted no. this is a staggering 92% voting no. does he agree with me the localism that my constituents and these people are listening to? >> i think it's important the planning system does listen to local people and i'm sure heel work in this case to make sure that happens. >> the evidence filed used to convict piter if it still exists contains clear intelligence of a widespread peter fall rink.

one of its members close to a raid of a prime minister who said he could smuggle in decent images from abroad. the lead was not fold up but i want to make sure the police secure the evidence, reexamine it and investigate clear intelligence suggesting a network linked to parliaments and number ten. >> the gentleman races a complex case and i'm not sure which former prime minister he's referring to but i'd like to look into the allegations he's made, the case he's raised and see what the government can do to ensure him. >> thank you mr. speaker. in principle, does my right honorable friend think that statutory regulation can ever be comparable with a free press?

>> my honorable friend is tempting me into what lord rev son might comment on his report. i do think it's important to set up the inquiry on an all party basis. we should allow him to produce his report. but one can ob says too much about how exactly these things are done. what matters most of all are we going to have a regulatory system the public has confidence, if there are mistakes there are proper corrections. if newspapers do the wrong thing they get fined. there is proper investigation when things go wrong. that's the most important issue. are we going to put in place a system the public will support but also seen we have a free independent and vigorous press.

>> is the prime minister aware that young people's unemployment in my constituency has gone up 500%. what are we going to do about this scandal >> what we are doing is putting together the biggest scheme to help people get back into work and we have seen success where we've seen more people in work at any time in history and the recent figures declined in the count and unemployment and decline in youth unemployment. that is more to do and heading in the right direction. >> would the prime minister promise today that unlike other leaders he will never spend 100,000 pound placing the release of legal advice that he doesn't hold and never asked for? >> he asks a baffling question about a baffling situation which is we were told by the first minister in scotland that he had legal advice in the event of independence.

it turns out they didn't have any legal advice at all. and i think this shows when you shine the spotlight on the case for separation, it completely falls apart. >> the prime minister has rightly expressed concern about child abuse in our institutions. changes to up stead means that some schools will never be inspected on their child protection procedures. will the prime minister meet me and m.p.'s from the old child party protection group to protect our children now and in the future? >> i'm very happy to arrange a meeting between her and the prime minister who i know will be delighted to discuss it with her. what we have tried to do is a take asset of rules and regulations that involve 9, 10

million more parents involved in this sort of thing and try to simplify it and concentrate on where it needed to be focused but i'm happy to arrange that meeting. order. >> you have been watching prime minister's questions from the british house of commons. next week question time will air at 8:00 a.m. eastern and then reairs on sunday at its usual time of 9:00 p.m. eastern and specific here on c-span. watch on cspan.org where you can find other british affairs programs. >> now through election day watch our coverage of the presidential candidates plus debates from key house, senate and governor races around the country. next president obama is briefed about preparations for hurricane sandy. hurricane sandy.