the final day of the faith and freedom coalition conference, including texas governor rick perry. at 11:00, another chance to see q&a with patrick gavin. "washingtonon ," the week ahead in washington. the former national security advisor for counterterrorism discusses nsa surveillance programs and the case against edward snowden. and daniel weiss talks about that groups disaster relief spending. >> going as far back as abigail adams and martha washington, you find that first ladies laid an

active role in the right -- in the white house and the campaigns it took to get there. abigail adams was basically a campaign strategist for her husband. she helped advise him on who to in order to win election, who he had to keep in his coalition. they would talk incessantly about the politics, the legislation that needed to be which senators and congressmen he could count on and which he could not, what he needed to do to win more support. >> john roberts, author of the book "rating the first ladies takes a look at first ladies as political partners with their husbands. "question time," prime minister david cameron discusses the british decision to support

the syrian rebels. he also answered questions on the g8 summit, the national health service, and strengthening the uk laws on intellectual property and appear at -- and copyright issues. >> questions for the prime minister. alex cunningham. >> thank you. this morning, i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. in thision to my duties house, i should have further duties today. >> alex cunningham. patients were made to wait in ambulances. how does the prime minister think the best way to deal with this is to find hospitals 90 million pounds? puttinggovernment is

12.7 billion pounds extra into the nha, money that would be cut by the party opposite. because of that extra money and the reforms, waiting times are down. for inpatients and outpatients are both down. hospital infections are down. that is a record we can be proud of. [inaudible] >> can he confirm the conservative party's commitment to renegotiations and a referendum? [inaudible]

>> on behalf of the whole house, can i welcome my honorable friend back? good to see him making such a strong recovery and being such a strong voice today, mr. speaker. he makes a very important point. on this side, we are committed outa renegotiation and an in- referendum before the end of 2017. apparently, half of the shadow governors support a referendum and the other half do not. it will have their chance on the fifth of july. they can turn up and vote for a referendum in the united kingdom. >> on syria, the prime minister has asked to use the g8 to push all members to provide humanitarian assistance during the terrible crisis that is happening there. on the arms embargo, he said ""if we helped to

tip the balance in that way, there is a greater chance of political transition succeeding. given that russia seems ready to supply more weapons to syria, does the prime minister think it is realistic for a strategy of tipping the balance? >> first of all, can i thank him for raising this issue and say he is absolutely right. g8 to bringe the about what we want in this house, a peace process and they moved towards a transitional government in syria. i am delighted to say that president putin will be coming on sunday, when we will discuss this. i do think it is important. the syrian national opposition are legitimate spokes people for the syrian people. it is important that we help them, give them technical training, advice, and assistance. all of those things we are doing. that does help tip the balance

to make sure that president assad can see he cannot win this military means alone and negotiation should take place for a transitional government. my question was specifically on the lifting of the arms embargo and the supply of weapons to the syrian rebels. thereweek, he also said, " are clear face guards to ensure that any kind of equipment would only be supplied for the protection of civilians." can you tell us what safeguards those are and how, in syria, they would be enforced? >> the point about lifting the arms embargo, which applied originally to both the regime and the official syrian opposition, is to send a clear message about our intentions and views to president assad. we have not made a decision to supply the syrian opposition with weapons.

we are giving them assistance, advice. we are giving them technical help. we have systems that thato make sure sort of nonlethal equipment, like transport, does not get into the wrong hands. of course we do. , i think we all pport the idea that we should focus on the peace conference and making the peace conference happened. the problem is, the government put its energy into lifting the arms embargo, not into the peace conference. notndly, i quoted his words about nonlethal equipment, but the supply of legal equipment. he gave assurance to this house that there would be safeguards. what would those safeguards be? i did not hear an answer. maybe when he gets up he can tell about it. will he also confirmed that if you take the decision to arm the

rebels in syria, there will be a substantive motion in government that will recall parliament if necessary? >> on this issue of the peace conference, we all want to see a peace conference, about. the question is, how are we most likely to put pressure to attend that peace conference? going back to the first thing he said about the russian decision to arm the regime, the russian regime has been arming this regime or decades. believe anything else. that is important. on the issue of safeguards, we are not supplying the opposition with weapons. we are supplying them with technical assistance and nonlethal equipment. we made no decision to supply the opposition with weapons. that is the answer to that issue. on the issue of the house of commons, as i have made clear, i have always believed in

allowing the house of commons a say on all of these issues. i was right when it came to made the decision to help the opposition in libya, and it would be right in the future for that to happen. but we have made no decision to arm the rebels in syria. on the government land to double the size of our reserve forces, has the prime minister considered the role of girders in this? many say they would welcome a role in the army, but there is no traditional recruitment. will he authorize an initiative to recruit them? >> my honorable friend makes an excellent suggestion. one of the ways we can build up the larger reserve that we want to see funded and fully thatped is to make sure those who have served in the regular army, that we have better opportunities for them to

serve in the deserve. the point he makes about the girkers, i am sure my secretary of defense will look at that and see what can be done. ofi am sure he will be aware a program that many of us, members of the scottish select midi, already knew. have beenpeople blacklisted. it has been compared to mccarthyism. behind closed doors, many people do not even know. [indiscernible] >> i did not see the banner on monday night. i would ask for a report on it. not only do they not support blacklisting, but they are

against it. >> can i ask the prime minister to support the industry and does that thewith me hardware are best helped by cutting benefits rather than by protecting benefits and cutting pensions, as the party opposite would do. toi well remember my visit my honorable friend's constituency. what people want to know in this country is that we are going to cap welfare and get on top of welfare bills to protect pensions and save retirements. you have doneif your due diligence on the party opposite policy. last week, they wanted a welfare back. they cap the welfare

bill? no they would not. would they cap housing benefits? no, they would not. the one thing they want to cap is pensions. are checked welfare, punish hard thoses, and target retiring. more of the same something for nothing culture. falling unemployment is welcome. but can the prime minister explain why today's figures also his that three years into government, living standards are continuing to fall? i think it isl, worth announcing to the house what the unemployment figures today show. they show employment, the number of people in work in our country going up. they show unemployment going down. i know the party opposite do not want to hear good news, but i

think it is important that we hear it. the number of people claiming unemployment benefits has fallen for the seventh month in a row. what is also interesting is, over the last year, while we have lost 100,000 jobs in the public sector, we have gained five times that amount in riot sector employment. the figures show some increase in wages. real wages have been under huge pressure since the limit is boom and bust under which the opposite party presided. ,hat is good for people is that under this government, we are cutting their income tax this year. is his fourth year of prime minister and his excuse for falling living standards is, do not blame me. i am just the prime minister. it is simply not good enough. he does not understand that, because of his failure, wages

are falling for ordinary people. that today'sm figures show that after inflation, since he came to 5 -- since he came to power, people's wages are over 1300 pounds per year? >> the figures announced are from 2008, when he was sitting in the cabinet. it is worth remembering, while he was energy secretary, the economy got smaller. it shrank month after month after month. under this government, we have 1.251.20 5 million -- jobs.n private sector of course, living standards are under pressure. the is why we are freezing count.

>> excessive noise in the chamber. members should not shout at the prime minister any more than they should shout at the members of the opposition. let the answers be heard. million more1.25 private sector jobs and that is a good record. >> no answer on the living standards crisis that is facing families up and down the country. it is no wonder what his side are saying about him. this is what the honorable member wrote about him, "it is like being in an airplane. the pilot does not know how to land it. we can either do something about it or sit back, watch the in- flight movies, and wait for the inevitable." i could not put it better myself about this prime minister. the reality is this. day in and day out, what people

down, day in,m back, dayn tide is in and day out, what people see is prices rising and wages falling while the prime minister tell them they are better off. he claims the economy is healing. but life is getting harder. they are worse off under the tories. >> only someone who wants to talk down our economy -- more people in work, you'd unemployment down, not one word of respect for that good agenda on jobs. he talked about airplanes. ,he former home secretary never mind getting on airplanes, this is what he said about right old gentleman's leadership. "we are literally going nowhere

." we have not even gotten on the airplane because we have not got a clue. >> last december, we welcomed the government support for a new direct rail link from swap sure to london. -- swopshire to london. does the prime minister agree that net rail should not get in the way of the people or economic progress? >> we want to see more direct rail links, like the one of which he speaks. there is also a need for better links to lancaster and black bull. one of the things they have battled with is the shortage of capacity. free up that capacity to make more of these direct links possible. we should be making some progress. last week, the prime

minister could not confirm that taxpayers would not subsidize property in the uk. or have you can clarify whether we will see tax funded purchases of second homes and colleges? >> let me give the honorable lady a reaction. this is for people only home. it will have a mechanism in place to make sure it is negated. the second thing which is important is, in order to take part in this scheme, you have to have a credit record in this country. it will not do what she says it would. >> mr. speaker, the former -- as the former pensions manager, this government introduced a new formula that is very discourteous. the honorable gentleman should be treated like every member of

the constituency. >> thank you. as a former pensions manager, i was proud when this government introduced a new triple lock formula on our state pensions. it grew by 234 pounds in its first year to every pension in the land. the prime minister share my concern that under his plan to morer cap tensions, pensions will lose their standard of living? >> i think my honorable friend is absolutely right. what we have done under this government is put a cap on welfare that families can receive. we have been as generous as we want toensioners who have dignity and security at old age. that is why we have the triple lock. we now know that the party opposite wants to cut the pension because they are footing a cap on pensions but not on welfare. to us this morning, the shadow

foreign secretary was on about the challenged triple lock and said it was their policy at present. given all of the u-turns we have had for the party opposite, i do not think that president will last very long. present will last very long. >> will the chancellor -- will the prime minister congratulate the football club for doing the right thing? will he also join in and do the right thing and give local -- orities the power >> i hear what he says and i wish them well for the future. i would say we need to give more support to credit unions in our country. that is one of the best ways of

addressing this whole problem of payday loans and payday lending. he would welcome the fact that, over the last year, unemployment has fallen in the northwest of our country. >> this is national tariff week. will the prime minister join me and paid tribute -- >> order, order. if each procession has to be extended, it will be extended. the honorable gentleman will, i repeat will, be heard. national tariff week. will the prime minister pay tribute to the huge commitment that thousands make day in and those? to help will he make a recommendation for prepared to care? >> on this one, the honorable member speaks for the whole

house and the whole country in praising britain's carers. if they stop caring, the cost to the taxpayer would be phenomenal. we should do what we can and make sure they get the proper breaks from caring to go on and do the wonderful work that they do. the number of supply teachers in secondary school in the last year increased by a staggering 17%? >> i do not have the figures for that. what i would say is that we have protected the amount of money that goes into schools so that schools have the money to employ the teachers that they need. unemployment has fallen by 6.9%. you'd unemployment has fallen by 19%. i will do my part and organize a job fair recently.

i am not sure that the economic class is working. honorable lady is absolutely right. we have seen a growth in employment, a fall in youth unemployment. as i said, yes, we are losing jobs in the public sector. we had to make cuts to the public sector. while we lost 100,000 jobs in over the last year, we have gained five times as many in the private sector. the shadow chancellor wants to give a running commentary. let me remind the house what he said. his is one of those important quotations in the last 10 years of british politics. "do i think the last labor government was roughly get? no, i do not think there is any evidence of that." that phrase will be hung around his neck forever. thank you, mr. speaker.

my constituency was flooded in november. residents are terrified that their homes and businesses are now worthless because this government has failed to replace the flood insurance scheme. 200s also because of million pounds for defense works. why has this prime minister not delivered? the honorable gentleman some welcome news. we had to extend the length of the scheme so we could continue negotiations. i am confident that we will put in place a successor to that scheme and an announcement will be made quite soon. lamps in ourva constituency. they have run into a problem with a reclassification of the product.

pass theif i could torch for this wonderful, innovative company. >> i am very happy to receive the information. it is happy that we get britain's -- it is important that we get britain's exports up. that would wipe out our trade deficit altogether. i am very happy to look at the information she has. the hospital is one of four closing in northwest london. with waiting times at a nine- year high, ambulances being diverted, will the egg acknowledge will he that these closures are not a serious option? >> as he knows, the health secretary has asked the irc to

conduct a full review of the proposals. the panel will submit no later than september. to be clear, whatever decision is reached, these proposals are not due to lack of central government funding. they are receiving 100 million pounds than the year before. if we listen to the labour party, who said that more nhs spending was not responsible, then his wrist -- his hospitals would have 100 million pounds less. >> with the prime minister join me in congratulating the china britain is this council -- business council for organizing a seminar which more than 60 businesses in watford attended last friday. i think they should be congratulated on this initiative. >> i am very happy to extend my praise to the china business

council. if we look at the evidence over the last few years, there is a significant increase of british exports to china and a big increase of chinese erect investment into the uk. all of this is welcome and we need to see it grow even further. >> what can the prime minister concern that he understands the importance of the created industries to the economy of this country and that they need adequate intellectual property? is he also aware that his , the fifthl property viscount younger, recently told the select committee they have a -- i am verygle aware of their power. i am also aware that they have

access for whatever reason to higher levels of number 10 then do i. , order, order! >> the honorable gentleman's question, which refers to a specific constituent of mine, suffered the disadvantage of being too long. >> i agree that creative industries are important for the british future. the music industry has had a record year in terms of sales. one in every four albums sold in europe is made here in the uk. it is something we can be proud of. you do have to get the intellectual property regime right. that is why we are legislating. he have taken action to extend the life of copyright protections to 75 years. that has been welcome across the music industry. we do not expect what he says

about my ministers, indeed, the minister most responsible, his father was a noble. that does not really fit. will the prime minister join me in praising the hard work of the honorable member and the government secretary for ensuring a decision regarding wind turbines remaining notable. --y of my constituents [inaudible] >> i absolutely join her in praising the work done by the right honorable member. .nd carried on by the minister

i think they have both done a good job of wringing some sanity to the situation with offshore wind. on the issue of solar panels, this government did substantially reduce the fees and tariffs to make sure this industry was not over subsidized. all of the subsidies end up on consumers bills. we should think carefully about that. >> the second-best survival rate for children's heart surgery in the country. will the prime minister are sure that the quality of care, including rates, is what matters most and is essential to any decision about the future? >> i think the honorable lady is absolutely right. the health secretary will be making an announcement shortly about the issues of safe and secure and children's heart operations. we have to be frank that we surgery,pect technical

like children's heart operations, to be carried out at every hospital in the country. as a parent of a desperately ill child, you need to know you are getting something that is world best from technical operations. you cannot have that everywhere. the conclusion is that this process started in 2008 and has not been carried out properly. we need to make a restart. >> is the prime minister aware that, last year, written became a next export in the car for the first time since 1976? if this continues, the uk will produce an all-time record of cars in 2017. it is a good example of a high and puttingsector a kickback into british manufacturing and exports. >> my honorable friend is absolutely right. it is a good example of a british industry that has

succeeded. honda, nissan, toyota, jag wire rover,ver -- jaguar-land really good news in that sector. we need to encourage them to have as much of their supply chains on shore as possible. i am hoping for further progress in the months ahead. >> this week, the city council revealed that renteria's have increased by 550,000 pounds since april. [inaudible] >> we ended this subsidy because we do not think it is fair to give a subsidy to it in who do not have private rented accommodation. there is now a question for the

labour party. if they are going to have this welfare cap, can they now tell us, are they going to reverse the change? are you? is that a no? that is right. after all the talk of the last few weeks, the iron discipline that we are going to hear about, the welfare cuts, test run, failure. >> thank you. tax avoidance is at the heart of the agenda. can my right honorable friend tell the house what advice he might have received on this issue from either the labour party or the shadow chancellor? it is this government that is putting aggressive tax avoidance at the heart of the g8 agenda. what do we hear this week from the labour party? they give tax avoidance advice to their donors. avoidedpounds of tax

because of what they advised. he asked me to calm down. i cannot con down because this is money that ought to be going into our healthcare. it ought to be going into training young people. ,hen you give the money back yes or no, it is very simple. this is what the labor leader says. in the guardian, so it must be true. tax avoidanceil, " is a terrible thing. if everyone approaches their tax affairs as some of these companies approach their tax affairs, we would not have a health service, we would not have an education system." that is the shameful state of the labour party today.

>> 7 million unpaid carers across the country and invest 1.2 billion pounds into social care. reversing the government made rice is in special care. >> we can start with the money from labor tax avoidance. that money should be going into the care system. that money should be going into the national health service. 12.7government has put billion pounds extra into our nhs. that is how we are supporting hospitals. but she can have a word with the shadow chancellor. >> as we approach the 25th anniversary of the