>> for a dvd copy of this program, call 1-877-662-7726. giveree transcripts or to us your comments about this program, visit us at q-and- a.org. "q&a" programs are also available as c-span podcasts. >> next, british prime minister david cameron takes questions at the house of commons. then a discussion on the future of the democratic and republican parties. after that, another chance to see "q&a." tomorrow, on "washington journal" michael steele talked about the future of the republican party. a consumer advocate and former

presidential candidate, ralph nader, discusses income inequality. george director of the mason university center for advancing correctional excellence looks at the cost effectiveness of the justice department, halfway house program. that is live at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. >> monday night on "first ladies." called a bigamist in the rachel jackson dies of an apparent i art attack. his niece later becomes the white house hostess and is later dismissed because of a scandal. angelica singleton, a widower ahmad and then marries him. -- a widower, then marries him.

that is on c-span and c-span three, c-span radio and c- span.org. weekly question time, the british foreign minister david cameron answered questions on the british economy. i head of the budget address by the chancellor of the exchequer. he also talked about the eurozone bailout of cyprus. opposition leader@milligram said the situation in cyprus was undermining the basic trust across the eurozone. this is just over 30 minutes. time access to capital to fund those projects. >> order. questions to the prime minister. mr. philip david. >> mr. prime minister. >> thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, this morning i had meetings with minister colleagues and others and in addition to my duties in this house i shall o have further suh meetings later today. >> does the transfer every with me that today we need a blue-collar conservative project

which has taxes are people who work hard, do the right thing and want to get on? stop spending billions of pounds we don't have on overseas aid where we saw -- helping with their cost of living -- [inaudible] >> first of all, can i thank the honorable frien thing for givine the opportunity to remind people that even before this budget in two weeks time there will be a tax cut for 24 million people in our country? [shouting] as we raise the amount of money you can earn before you pay tax come we will take an over too many people out the tax altogether. we have frozen the council tax. we have canceled fuel duty increase after fuel duty increase, and we are legislating -- and i can also tell him where not going to carry on with a proposal made by the previous

energy secretary which was about 179 pounds on everybody's bill. we decided to scrap that. >> ed miliband. [shouting] >> trento want to ask the primers about the situation in cyprus. can the prime minister update the house what is being done to protect the british nationals including our armed forces who have deposits in cyprus banks? >> the leader of the opposition raises and externally important issue, and a very sensitive and difficult time for the republic of cyprus. first of all on the issue of anyone who is in cyprus because they've been sent there by the british government in the armed forces, m.o.d., or the foreign office, we've guaranteed that they won't anyway lose out in terms of their earnings or their savings. that is the first thing to say. we've also sure that money will be available which is why a plane with the money was sent to cyprus last night. in terms of, in terms of british citizens in cyprus, assumed our

many thousands, of course we cannot insure them against any losses in terms of cyprus bank accounts. but we can do is make sure that they did and they get safely to the pensions and benefits to which they're entitled. we've frozen those payments for the time being until the situation becomes clear, but everyone should know they will get those payments. >> ed miliband. >> mr. speaker, on monday the minister said to the uk government had intelligence about what went on in discussions among the euro zone members who negotiated the plan. can the prime minister tell us what the government knew in advance that what they said about the plan? >> first of all, as we are not in the euro, we do not join the discussions about eurozone bailout. [shouting] i think this is important and it is worth noting that because of the deal i did in brussels getting us out of the bailout fund -- [shouting] we will not be contributing the

otherwise up to perhaps a billion pounds that we would be contributing under the previous government's plan. obviously, what we are doing is now waiting to see the action that the cyprus government and the your group would agree in making sure we do everything to bridged citizens in the years and weeks ahead. >> ed miliband. >> the point of would make is this is a just matter for the eurozone, but our other european economies that goes in the banking system. i think it should've been obvious that everyone had a sudden levy imposed on all would undermine basic trust and confidence in banks. so could he send a clear message that a negotiated bail out that is going to be sides will agree with the government of cyprus needs to rebuild trust and banking system and not undermine it further? >> we've made our views very clear. in our view, when you have a deposit protection scheme as we have in this country, as all of your put in place after the

crash of lehman brothers, those deposit protection schemes should be respected. that is the whole portrai point. that is why they are there for small savings. >> harriett baldwin. >> the civil service union as threatened today to go on strike. but the country does not seem to have grounds to have hope. does the prime minister agree with me that that probably indicates that there is a bit more room to save in terms of public sector setting so we can put labour sector, get this country back on track? spent i think my friend raises an important void. it is important to recognize that we should do everything we can to save and find efficiencies in public spending in order to help hard-working families keep their tax bill do. that is exactly what this government will continue to do. >> thank you, mr. speaker. on january 9, the prime minister told me they would be no hostile

to the organizations unless they were in support of the local gp commissioners, proper public engagements and evidence-based. will now admit that not one of those test is met in the case of hospitals where he proposes to close down half the services and sell off two-thirds of the land the bailout neighboring savings trust? mr. speaker, can anyone trust this prime minister on the mh as ever again? ever again? >> i have to say to the honorable lady that it is worth remembering who set up this bfi deal that has meant for this action had to be taken. the apology over what is happening at the south london health care trust should come from the party opposite for they are responsible for creating this situation. as she knows, 1 million pounds a week is being lost from frontline care. no change is not an option, but under the health secretary's plan, he has made sure that they

will retain medical and emergency cover. >> gordon. spent great man. great men. >> thank you, mr. speaker. today, it is just under 6500. in 2008 it was just under 3500. does my right honorable friend agree with me that the real investors in this economy agree with the governors economic policy -- [inaudible] deliver by the party opposite? >> my honorable friend makes a good point. it is a very difficult and hard road we are traveling to turn this economy around after the huge mess that was made by the party opposite. but when you look at the facts, just this morning we can see an extra 131,000 people in work. we are seeing the changes necessary to start the rebuilding of our economy.

>> mr. ed mella van. [shouting] >> mr. speaker, last week in the foreign secretary said it was a strong case of amending the arms embargo of syria in the months ahead. given that no decision was taken in the eu council, does it remain the primary's intention to seek a relaxation of the eu arms embargo? >> first of all let a us look at what we've achieved and amending the arms embargo when we specifically asked it to be chained to we could give technical support to the opposition. we've achieved that at the french president and i discussed at the european council looking for further changes to the arms embargo that will be discussed by foreign affairs ministers this weekend at and the reason for that is twofold. first of all its and a peculiar message that the arms embargo still applies pretty much equally to this hateful regime and to the opposition who we now

recognize as a legitimate representative of the syrian people. and second, the french president is concerned and i'm concerned that we should not be restricted for months and months ahead when we don't know exactly what could happen in syria, including a good warning reports use of chemical weapons. >> trying to i think the prime minister for that answer. everyone is appalled by the actions of the assad regime. but he will know that there is not only a lack of unity among syrian opposition groups, but there's also the known presence of al qaeda backed organization on the ground in c. does the prime minister understand the widespread concern that remains about the idea of seeking supplies and weapons to rebels? >> i think the leader of the opposite puts the point right. there is widespread concern about the nature of the opposition and the argument i think we have to engage in is this. are we more likely to help the good elements of the opposition by standing back, or are we more likely to help by getting into and shaping and helping and giving this technical assistance so we can play a part in

building up the syrian opposition so they are legitimate and credible alternatives to this hateful regime? it is worth recalling and we should all recall the fact that current policies are not working for the people of syria. 70,000 people are dead, and this hateful regime is still in place. >> he's right that the current situation is a terrible situation. we don't want to make it worse. the u.n. has said, the u.s. secretary joe has said the introduction o of more weapons industry is adequate counterproductive or not will lead to a resolution for special representative brahimi called for renewed diplomatic initiative bring the warring party to negotiating table. can the prime minister set out what steps you a cake government is taking to support the u.n. and advancing this initiative? >> we are taking specific steps to help the u.n. with his initiative and try to achieve a diplomatic solution would transition at the top of the regime is worthwhile pursuing.

that is why we have detailed talks with the russian foreign and defense ministers in the last week. i would just make one of the point about the issue of the arms embargo, because i felt sitting about the european council chamber there was a slight similarity between some of the arguments that were being made about not putting more weapons into syria that seem to be very familiar to the discussions we had about bosnia and the appalling events that followed. and in my view it is better to be engaged working with the syrian opposition trying to bring this conflict to an end. >> anne marie morris. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the numbers on the coastal railway lines are growing fast. given local tourism, can the prime minister assure me urgent investment letter and to repair recent flood damage? >> i can get my auto a friend that assurance and in no the

transport sector will be visiting her constituency. investment is going into the hole of the line, including the major investment shortly to be completed which will help capacity all down the line. >> mr. speaker, the prime minister will be aware of the growing disquiet across the uk regarding his government welfare reform proposal. deep proposals are deeply unfair. and will they lead to chaos or does the prime minister agree with me that in terms of legacy for him, welfare reform will be his -- [inaudible] spent i don't agree at all. i find that there is strong support for the housing benefit cap so we no longer find homes, capital in our country up to 100,000 pounds a year. there is strong support for the welfare cap, and, indeed, very strong support for universal credit which will make sure that in every case people are better off in work and are better off

when you choose to work extra hours. that is what we want is a welfare system that supports enterprise, work, and aspirati aspiration. >> mr. henry bellingham. [shouting] >> is the prime minister a whether some people have died on the road in the last week? furthermore, eight have died on the last 10 weeks. does he share my concern about this tragic loss of life? is he aware of a campaign run for myself and other colleagues more broadly to improve the road? people don't understand the current budgetary restraints, simply a fair share of resources spent well, i'm grateful to my honorable friend for bring me up to date with this important campaign that he and others are meeting in norfolk. we do have a much better record oon road safety to we vetted recent years but we should never be complacent but we should continue to work on that. i know that money has been made available for road schemes in norfolk. of course, i can see from the

transfer minister nodding vigorously behind my honorable friend there may be more to,. >> -- more to come. >> does the prime minister i agree with me that people are suffering under depression and it would be the wrong politics at this time tournament to 50 the top rate of tax? and will be now, with the now canceled next month's tax cut for millionaires? [shouting] spent the point i would make to the honorable lady is after the start of the financial year, the top rate of tax will be higher than in any year when labour was in office. and i'm sure that something he would fully agree with. >> thank you, mr. speaker. today, the 20th anniversary of the wilmington bombing, and the prime minister may recall, or will recall over 20 were killed and injured almost a 12 year-old boy. will he join me in congratulating tim's parents for

the way they've worked tirelessly for piece over the past two decades? in particular, establishment of the foundation for piece which brings help to victims of conflicts around the world. >> i certainly join my honorable friend in praising that family. for the incredible bravery they have shown. when you suffer tragedy like this, it must be so much easier to try to put behind you and forget about it. but to go on and campaign for piece and to bring together the people of oregon adde have it di think shows enormous character and fortitude. they have the backing of the whole country. ..

that makes pretty good sense. just a few weeks back my friend became the first serving prime minister to visit -- as a british seat can i actually say how warmly it was received. congratulate them on the work they have done in searching the european airport. this shows you of a proactive relationship with europe than a reactive one. can i thank my honorable friend for all the work he doesed in the area and the way he consistently raises issues about the british seat community, the immense -- and the respect we should show them. and accompanying me on the gulf and temple.

something i will never forget. how much british give to britain and how much we thank them for. >> thank you, mr. speaker, my constituent found himself homeless at age 17. he was offered social housing and now determined to improve the situation from the education. he will lose fourteen pounds in the tax and three pounds in council tax leaving 11 pounds per week after utility. based on the prime minister's experience of hardship what advice does he have for jordan? >> the point i would make to the honorable lady, first of all, the government is investing in social housing. she'll hear more about that in a moment or two. the second point, when housing benefit costs 23 billion pounds a year, we have to reform it. there's a basic issue of

fairness which is why should someone who is living in private rented accommodation not receive a spare room subsidize when someone in social housing should? there's a basic issue of fairness. that's why it should be put right. >> i might be honorable member for -- i'm very proud of our coalition for sticking to -- [inaudible] >> the honorable lay by's question -- lady's question must be heard. >> we set an example for the world and later on this month the prime minister goes to bali to co-chair the high level panel to discuss the next -- development goals. will he use his -- to prep for some of the gender equality and women empowerment.

>> i would very carefully what the honorable lady says about the importance of gender equality in term of the new goal. the point i would make to anyone who races the -- races the issue, i don't think we should break our promises to the poorest people in the world. when you think about it our key ought to be eradicated the extreme poverty people living on less than $1.25 a day. that's what we're talking about. we should be proud of the fact we're keeping our promises. >> of the money saving on budget day, in line with the education secretary wants to teach us, could the prime minister the chancellor and the cabinet on performance-related pay. how does he think he would save? >> it's this job that has seen the deficit come down by a third since he became chancellor. and private sector jobs. he's cutting the country out of

a whole we were left in by the party opposite. [cheering and applause] [inaudible] >> the prime minister welcome. the country's first local enterprise fund people who care have raised 400,000 pounds to invest in businesses and encouraging enterprise securing employment and in so many others where they lead the rest of the country -- [inaudible] i'm sure my friend is right about that the leadership of all things. he makes an important point, need to see more small businesses start, more enterprise. we need to see more to keep the private sector going. >> alex cunningham. >> rising unemployment remains an issue in my constituency. based on the reemployment and

recession which claims hard working families in the most vulnerable for the obscene tax for millionaires. [cheering and applause] -- looks at the figures today he'll see there are 131,000 more people in work over the last quarter, we have seen 600,000 more people employed compared with a year ago, that is what is actually happening in terms of employment. and i have to say when we look at the mess we were left by the party opposite being given advice on economic and budget day for the party asking is like asking emeril for accounting advice. in less than a time the government will have taken 3,168 of my constituents. -- [inaudible] let it show that the conservative government are on the side of hard working low

paid people. >> i think my honorable friend makes an important point. we have consistently lifted the possible tax allowance. the amount of money you earn before you start paying tax starting around 600,000 pounds and rising all the time. with 2 million people have already been taken out all together and -- may have further news. >> thank you, mr. speaker. does the prime minister agree with the honorable friend that his government should be on a looking after people struggling to pay the mortgages rather than protecting those in 2 million pound houses? >> we should be helping people paying the mortgages. that's why it's vital we -- stick to the lane. we have no interest rate in the country because we have a plan to get the deficit down. that's the key. the other point i would make, if you look for the lending scheme

that has successfully reduced mortgage rates and made sure that people who don't have access to a large deposit able to look at buying a house. we are making progress but there's more to do. >> williamson . >> we had the wonderful news that -- [inaudible] 700 jobs -- last year we saw the creation of 70,000 manufacturing jobs in the u.k. does my friend think that the staff correct can of a 1.7 million manufacturing jobs -- [inaudible] >> they make an important point. it has been a massive success story for our country. i would raise all of those who invested money in the business and those who work in the business and apprenticeships trained in the business. it's hard on recovery of the

automatictive sector that has seen a surplus in the number of cars that we export overseas and as part of a picture where toyota, honda, other auto motics are doing well and we support them. >> of the birth of dr. davey livington marked by a service. he will know one of hiving stoun's proudest moment -- does the prime minister agree with me it's time for the government taingt lead to -- take the lead that understand the two and a half million people in modern day slavely as a result of people trafficking. >> i think the gentleman makes an important point. gives me the opportunity to praise her for her work and what she's doing to lift people out

of slavery. thank you for visiting this week. he makes an important point about slaf i slavery. we need to take action. action at the european level, national level, and on the local level with the police. the government will continue to take that. >> whatever change pay slips of working people will show a tax cut from the personal allowance liberal democrats. [inaudible] what does it say about the priority of this coalition government? >> it's an important priority we have taken on in budget after budget even in difficult times say we are on your side, we want to cut your taxes bills. in two weeks time there are is a tax cut of over 200 pounds for 24 million people in our

country. each and every taxpayer at the same time lifting over 2 million people out of tax and don't pay any income tax at all. it's progress on the side of people who work hard and want to get on. >> what is the prime minister planning to spend his millionaire's tax on? [cheering and applause] >> honorable lady, when the top rate of tax put up, millionaires paid 7 million pounds less. that's incompetent and inefficient sei she left -- to support. >> the question is asked, when the prime minister is giving -- [inaudible] dr. julian lewis. give him the sas nighting gail had the qirks quashed following the quashing of his military prison sentence last year, does

the prime minister agree with me that it would be totally against the public interest and against the sas regimen for him to have to face a fresh trial when others are benefiting from it rightly introduced by the state of defense as a result of the . >> my honorable friend raise answer important point. let me say how strongly i support those of the service. you get a opportunity meet them as prime minister. they are some of the bravest and finest people of the country. i don't want to get any trouble. i'll leave the issues to the gold. >> the government is set aside to help people on the tax --

[inaudible] of the really hard and paralyzed constituent -- acute housing shortage in europe and they have nowhere to move to. will the prime minister do one more u-turn on the tax and scrap it? >> first of all, let me remind the honorable gentleman, only the labour party can cause a welfare reform on the tax. it shows how little they understand about how tax and benefit actually work. what we are doing is making available a discretionary which is therefore the hard cases but recognizes there's a basic issue of cost about 23 billion spend on housing every year and a basic issue of fairness. not just fairness between the private and social sector but recognizing there are 1.8 million people on housing waiting list who would love to have a bedroom.

>> the business act with milton as the best place in the country to do business. [inaudible conversations] rebuilding our economy. i >> i was aware of the statistic. he helpfully reminded me of it together recently talking about exactly the issue. what a fantastic location for business it is. it is encouraging business start-up and leading to a growth and employment in the region. >> given that the chancellor this morning joined twitter, could the prime minister remind the chancellor and the house what two million tweets make? [laughter] >> i made a number of remarks about twitter over the years. i had to withdrawal because i'm

tweeting myself. i look forward to the first tweet after the budget this afternoon. but what is clear he could tweet even now that we are cutting tacks in two week's time for 24 million working people. taking people out of tax and certainly tweeting that would not cause any discharges for them. -- discharge for him. >> recently the secretary admitted when they were there they got the immigration policy wrong. does the prime minister agree with me that the cost of -- to make a similar admission as far as the economic policy? >> i think my honorable point makes a good point. we inheritedded a shambles when it came to immigration. completely -- we still had. we had apologies or sort of

apologies for that. we haven't had any sort of apology for the borrowing, the spending, and the debt for the mess we were left in by the party opposite. >> mr. speaker, it's estimated for the cost of one nuclear reak reactor seven million household -- [inaudible] eye boggling 14 billion pound price tag and -- and electricity is that something they are -- can prime minister tell us what works? >> i'm afraid i don't agree with the honorable lady. a fleet of nuclear power stations are coming to the end of their life. i think it's important we work hard to replace some of their capacity. that is what it is about. that is why i think my friend was absolutely right to give it the go ahead. i think it's going to be an important provider of

[captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2013] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] you have been watching "prime minister's questions" from the british house of commons. they are on break for easter vacation and will return april 15. you can watch "prime minister's questions" at 7:00 a.m., an on- line, you can find other "prime minister's questions" and other british programs. the futurecussion on of the democratic and republican parties. then, a look at the history of presidential news conferences. after that, "q&a" with nih director dr. francis collins. >> let's go straight. you have been on the