>> north carolina governor will speak about challenges facing >> thise including --

is the typewriter. this is where she wrote her column. the originalyear, columns i wanted to share. the first one is her first column. asassessed of the tone follows. she was talking about the comings and goings in the white house as they are getting back into the schedule. this is a mayday clipping from 1940. it was election day. she is talking about at midnight a bigger crowd or came with wonderful pluckers. the president went out to greet them. on electiondition night. they would gather the family around and wait for results. the folks would march down the president would come out. rooseveltady, eleanor on 9:00 eastern on c-span and c- span 3. also c-span radio.

>> british prime minister taking questions on the cost of living standard and unemployment in the u.k.. from question time, this is half an hour. >> questions to the prime minister. >> number one, mr. speaker. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i am sure the whole house will wish to join me in congratulating the english football team. ensuring that qualify for next year's world cup. my commiseration to the other home nations. i am sure that everyone in the united kingdom will swing behind the english team. you can always dream. this morning i had meetings with colleagues and in addition to my duties in this house, i shall have further meetings later today.

>> hoping sheffield united will follow their lead. [laughter] mr. speaker, we will all have heard from constituents who while struggling to make ends meet have taken out payday loans. their sense of spiraling debt with excessive charges. yesterday, organizations came together in parliament to launch a charter calling for the tough regulation of payday lenders. [indiscernible] it is backed by members representing every party in this house. will the prime minister at his support? -- add his support?

>> first of all, can i commend the gentleman for the work he does on payday loans and the need for tough regulation. it is right that we look at this area and make sure we get things right. earlier this month, the government published reports showing the problems in the payday market. consumers do continue to suffer. that is why the financial conduct authority has made a series of proposals. limiting the number of attempts and all other apostles are worthwhile. we continue to look at the issue of the cap. i don't think we should rule that out but we have to bear in mind what has been found out in other countries and through our own research about whether a cap would prove effective. it is right that we properly regulate this area. >> dr. liam fox. >> can we have a full and transparent assessment of out whether the snowden affair has damaged our national security? does he agree that it is bazaar

that the hacking of a celebrity phone demented prosecution but prosecution but leaving british people is opening a debate? >> i think the plain fact is that what has happened has damaged national security and in many ways, the guardian themselves admitted that when they agreed when asked politely to destroy the files they had. they went ahead and destroy those files. they know that what they are dealing with is dangerous. it is up to this house to examine this issue and make further recommendations. >> ed miliband. >> i join the prime minister in sending congratulations to the english team on their victory last night. i have my commiseration to wales, scotland and northern ireland. today's economic figures show a fall in unemployment.

they also show that prices have risen faster than wages. 39 out of 40 months, living standards have fallen since he became prime minister. will he confirm what everybody knows, that there is a cost-of- living crisis in this country? >> first of all, let me welcome his welcome for the on implement figures. figures.oyment it is good news. the number is up 155,000. unemployment is down 18,000. women's unemployment is down. youth unemployment is down. long-term on implement is down. vacancies are up. the claimant count is 41,000 this month alone. that is the fastest fall in the number of people claiming unemployment benefits since 1997. these are welcome figures. of course, we all want to see

living standards improve. the way to deliver is to grow the economy, keep producing jobs and cut people's taxes. [cheering] >> there are almost one million young people still out of work and a record number of people working part-time who can't find full-time work. that is no cause for complacency. i think the british people will be very surprised if the prime minister is telling them their living standards are rising while they know the truth. living standards are falling month upon month. there is a cost-of-living crisis. one of the reasons is rising energy bills. one leading charity reports it is one of the things driving people to food banks. in light of that, though the prime minister think that the energy company's decision to raise energy bills by 8.2% is justified? >> let me come back to him on the youth unemployment figures. the youth claimant count, the

number of young people claiming unemployment benefits is down 79,000 since the election. there is no complacency. we need more young people in work, more jobs. the figures show there are one million more people in work than there were when this government came to office. let me remind the gentleman of something he predicted in october 2010. he said this, the government, i think people want to listen to this. the government have a program which will clearly lead to the disappearance of one million jobs. that was his prediction. he was 100% wrong. he should apologize to this house of commons. [cheering] of course, we all want to see energy prices come down. that is why we are putting people on the low-end tariff. the one thing that won't work is a price con.

that is what he is recommending. >> the only one who should be apologizing is this prime minister. they say on their website, they have just one strategic priority. they call it their dividend up session. it is not to get bill down. it is make up your mind time for the prime minister. whose side is he on? the energy companies or the consumer? >> we are on the side of hard- working families. [indiscernible] that is why we have frozen the council tax. we have lifted 2 million people out of tax. let me make this simple point about living standards. if you want to help, the best way to do that is to cut people's taxes. you can only cut taxes if you cut spending. he has opposed every single

spending cut that we propose. even now, he still wants to spend more money. that is the truth. more spending, more borrowing, more debt. it is the same old labor. [cheering] >> the one thing the prime minister doesn't want to talk about is energy prices. he can't talk about it because he has no answer. let's have an answer on the energy price freeze. can he confirm that opposing the freeze, he has on his side the big six energy companies and supporting a freeze, we have consumer bodies like -- and small energy producers. if an energy price freeze was such a great idea, why didn't he introduce it when he stood [indiscernible] the fact is -- >> it is not a price freeze. he is not in control of worldwide gas prices. he had to admit the next today

he couldn't keep his promise. the reason the right honorable gentleman doesn't want to talk about the economy is because he hasn't got a credible economic policy. he can't explain why the deficit is falling, the economy is growing, on implement is coming down. given his problem, he doesn't help himself by having a totally incredible energy policy. >> i thought he might get to the record of the last government. they found a new tactic. they have been floundering and they blame the last government. let's talk about green levies. who was it that said vote blue, go green? i think it was this prime minister. i quote, i think green taxes need to go up.

he has been talking about my record and energy secretary. i looked back at the record. on the energy bill of 2010, did he oppose the energy bill of 2010? no, he supported the energy bill of 2010. you could say, mr. speaker, two parties working together in the national interest. doesn't he feel faintly embarrassed that in five short years -- >> the only embarrassing thing is this tortured performance. he wants to talk about the record of the last labor government. let me remind him on the cost- of-living, they doubled the council tax. they doubled the gas bills. they put up electricity bills. they increased the basic state

pension by a measly 75 pence. when it came to the low pay, they got rid of the income tax altogether. they have no economic policy. that is where the former chancellor, the honorable member said this. on the ninth of september, i am waiting to hear what we have got to say on the economy. we have all been waiting but i think we should give up waiting because they are hopeless opposition. >> i will tell him what happened. he talks about the last labor government. i will tell them what happened. living standards -- living standards -- living standards up 3700 pounds in the labor government. living standards down 1500 pounds under him. this is a reality of britain under this prime minister. food bank use on the rise.

energy bills soaring. even if you are a prime minister in total denial about a cost-of- living crisis. >> if he wants to debate the last labor government, i say bring it on. they trashed the economy. they doubled the national debt. they bankrupted this country. today, on the day we can see there are one million more people in work, that is one million reasons to stick to the economic plan we have. it is one million reasons to keep on getting the deficit down. it is one million reasons to say, more borrowing, more spending, more debt, that is the same old labor. never again. [cheering] >> thank you very much, mr. speaker. last night, this gentleman was

speaking. last night, you're presented a magazine icon award to the nieces of the gay world war ii code breaker who helped this country win world war ii. the government indicated in july that it would give a pardon to him for his convictions for gross indecency which led him to take his own life. can my friend tell us when that pardon will be granted? >> let me pay tribute to what allan turing did for our country. it was remarkable and crucial in winning the second world war. what happened was completely wrong and looking back, everyone can see that. the specific issue of the pardon i am happy to look at. above all, what we should do is praise alan turing. >> the prime minister embraced the need to cut green biofuel

mandates which effectively hijack productivity. the eu presidency is proposing a seven percent cap. that difference could feed 68 million people a year. what efforts is he making to actively avert eu governments compromising the fight against world hunger? >> let me pay tribute to the campaign he has waged on the specific issue. we are clear that the production of biofuels should not undermine food security. in some countries, it is. a five percent cap on biofuels was one of the he assets of the campaign i supported. that is exactly what we are pushing for. i hope we will be successful.

>> mr. burt. >> thank you very much. mr. speaker, the use of contaminated products by the nhs in the 1970's and 1980's exposed 5000 people to hepatitis c and some 1200 others included in that number to hiv as well. of those 1200, just over 300 are still alive. there has never been an apology or a public inquiry. would my friend who has an outstanding record meet with me and one of my constituents, look at the possibility of public admonishment and ensure that for those who survive now, they are treated equally and fairly? >> can i thank my right honorable friend for raising this issue in the way that he has. i, too, have constituents who

have been affected by this appalling thing that happened in our country. in 2011 in january, we announced a package of measures to provide additional support for those affected. there has been a change in the potential outcomes for people with hiv compared to those with hepatitis c, i am happy to meet with him and consider all the issues he raises. and see if there is more we can do. >> the prime minister will know of the many injustices that have been meted out in the last few years. they were mentioned again on monday. the latest victim was a farmer and a butcher who went in december 2012 and was stripped of his benefits. for 11 months, he waited for an appeal.

his aggressive cancer took his sight, his hearing, and last friday, took his life. isn't it time that we put an end to this system where people that are really suffering should not be allowed an appeal, having to live on 70 pounds a week, him and his widow? two things the prime minister should do, one -- with immediate effect, make a payment to his widow to cover the suffering, pain and loss of income. secondly, abolish this cruel, heartless monster. get rid of it. >> the prime minister. >> the gentleman raises what is clearly a desperately sad case. i am happy to look at it and the specifics of the case. i think everyone who has

constituents knows that we have to improve the quality of decision-making about this issue. where i would take issue, i think it is important that we carry out proper assessments of whether people are qualified for benefits or are not qualify for benefits. that is why the members -- when they started to look -- >> the question was heard. heard with great courtesy. the answer must be heard. >> that is why when they were in government, the last government did look at the issue of making sure we have a proper way of judging who should be receiving benefits. we can always improve the system. there are appeals in the system. i am happy to look at the individual case. >> mr. speaker, i am really concerned that ecological protests are being

misinterpreted as piracy because no one wants the scrutiny of the environmental work the work they were doing. >> i share my friend's concern. one of the people involved is a constituent of mine. we need to follow this case extremely closely. the foreign office minister had a meeting which i am sure she attended. we are daily seeking updates from the russian government about how these people are being treated. >> last week, in answer to a question on his marriage tax policy, the prime minister answered that all married couples paying basic rate tax would benefit from this move. that wasn't correct, was it prime minister? >> what i said is that the tax is available to all couples who are on basic rate tax. anyone who has unused tax allowance is able to transfer it between the husband or the wife. it comes back to a simple

principle which is that we want to back marriage in the tax system. if the shadow chancellor wants to raise another point of order, i am happy to stick around and hear it out. >> i intended to raise the issue of 814 but a really important announcement was made today by the supreme court. they unanimously turned down the appeals of prisoners rights. importantly, they reasserted that it is wrong for this parliament to make the decision. can my friend ensure that we will not be voting for prisoners rights in this parliament? >> can i thank my honorable friend for raising this important issue. can i congratulate the attorney

general, he fought this case himself in front of the supreme court. he made a compelling and forceful argument. this is a victory for common sense. my views on this issue are well- known. i do not believe that prisoners should have the vote. the supreme court today has stood up for common sense, stood up for democracy. this issue has nothing to do with the eu. i think we can all rejoice in that result. [cheering] >> mr. speaker, the number of people helped by food banks in 2012/13 was triple compared with the previous year. is the prime minister proud of this achievement? >> food bank usage went up 10 times under the last labor government. what i want to see is helping all families with their living standards. that is why we should recognize the fact we are getting more people into work. we are growing our economy.

we are keeping interest rates down. we are cutting taxes. for things that are vital to living standards and for things you would never get from a labor government. >> in september, the ambulance service moved to a makeready system. today, there are no two-man ambulances. already several of my constituents have been left for unacceptably long periods waiting for a nebulous to take them to a hospital. will the prime minister agree to meet with me to see what can be done before a constituent dies waiting for an ambulance to come? >> i share my friends concern about the importance of response

times for ambulances. we have to test them for how they meet those targets. i am very happy to arrange a meeting with her and health ministers to look at this. i know the ambulance service is looking at a way to improve services. >> mr. speaker, the prime minister will note that yesterday the commission published a report into an event that occurred involving the former government chief. this goes to the heart of the ethics of the police. does he agree with the secretary who in her evidence said it was right that the relevant chief constable should apologize to the honorable members and wrong if the relevant officers did not face disciplinary procedures? >> i agree 100% with what the secretary said yesterday. we should be clear about what we are discussing. the whole case of what happened outside number 10 downing street, we have to leave that on

one side until they make that decision. what is being discussed is the fact that my friend had a meeting with police federation officers in which he gave a full account of what had happened. they left that meeting and claimed he had given them all. the meeting was recorded and he was able to prove what he said was true. that is why the honorable gentleman is absolutely right. he is owed an apology. the conduct of these officers was not acceptable. these things should be investigated at the home secretary said. for his committee to discuss this and try to get to the bottom of why better address is not being given. >> can i congratulate the prime minister on taking 2 million out of income tax but note the 1.3 million earning who have been sucked into the higher rate.

as he pursues the mission, can i urge him -- can i just urge him to deliver it by cutting government spending silly can ease the squeeze on the middle class. >> my honorable friend is right to make this point. we have taken 2.7 million people out of income tax altogether because we have lifted the first 10,000 pounds of what you can earn before you start paying taxes. this means someone on a minimum wage working full-time has seen their tax bill come down by something like two thirds. i want to see taxes cut for all. the only way to do that is to continue to get the deficit down. to bed down on public spending, and not listen to the party opposite who even today are making massive commitments to more welfare and public spending which would lead to higher taxes and more of the same old labor.

>> thank you, mr. speaker. does the prime minister consider it a source of shame that on his watch the red cross has announced that it will be distributing food to british families for the first time in 70 years? >> what the red cross are choosing to do is work with fair share which is an excellent charity that makes sure that supermarkets don't waste food but make that food available to people who need it. i think that is thoroughly worthwhile. what we need to see is a raise in living standards which we will get if we keep growing the economy, getting more jobs, cutting taxes and keeping interest rates low. those are the four things this government is delivering. four things that we've never would have delivered with the bench opposite.

>> yesterday, i presented a petition calling for 420 million pounds in redevelopment. does the prime minister agree that this money would make a real difference to patients across sussex? >> i understand that the case for the 420 million pound redevelopment of the regional center for teaching trauma, that is being considered. we can only consider it because this government decided not to cut the nhs but to put extra resources into the nhs. an announcement will be made. >> tax cuts for millionaires. tax cuts for the wealthiest in this country. [indiscernible] at the same time as millions are denied the right to work.

when is this government -- [inaudible] [shouting] >> we all know who did the most for the hedge funds and the bankers. it was the people who allowed the banks to go bust in the first place. it is this government that is cutting taxes for working people. taking 2.7 million people out of tax compared with the disgrace of the government he was in. >> thank you, mr. speaker. we appreciate the government requires hard choices about priorities.

does the prime minister agree with me that a generous pension should have greater priority than more generous wealth benefit payments? >> my friend makes a good point. i am proud of the fact that last year the basic state pension went up by five pounds a week. we have the inflation figures for september so we can say, because of our triple lock, the pension will go up by the rate of inflation next year. the party opposite committed to an earnings increase wouldn't see anything like that. at the same time, they are choosing to up rate welfare by two percent when we think it should go up i one percent. we have priorities to stand up for people who work hard, unlike the party opposite. we will never let our pensioners down. >> this week, it was reported that inflation was running at 8.7%.

does the prime minister agree that it is inevitable that mortgage guarantee schemes -- [indiscernible] >> i don't accept that. it is interesting that labor has come out against the scheme. we want to help people get on the housing matter, own a place of their own. the labour party is standing against those people. i have to say, you look at house price increases outside london in the southeast. mortgages are still way below where it was before the recession struck. we want to get people on the housing ladder. the party opposite don't care for them. >> the prime minister will know that in my constituency, some businesses are almost paying as much in business rates as they

are paying in rent. what steps will he take to persuade the local council to reduce those rates and make the right choices? >> i am grateful because i know he is a real champion for small business on this issue. the first thing that we need to do is get the bill passed through the house of commons that will cut the national insurance bill on every business in the country. it means that single traders will be able to take on three people earning minimum wage without paying any national insurance at all. that is the most important thing we can do. we should continue to look at the business rate system. we will continue to work on this issue. >> under this government, wages have fallen in every region of the u.k.

an average 2200 pounds worse off each year. when is the prime minister going to take responsibility for this? >> look at disposable income as well as wages. this government has cut people's taxes. we are allowing people to keep 10,000 pounds of what they earn before they pay taxes. disposable income went up last year. it is rising as we speak today. this is important for the labour party. if you go on attacking spending cuts and asking for more and more spending, everyone will know, repeat after me, with labor, you get more borrowing, more spending, more taxes, the same old labor. >> thank you, mr. speaker. is my friend aware that unemployment has fallen in harlow and job seekers are encouraged? can i ask my friend to go one step further and look in the long-term, raising the threshold?

>> i am happy to look at what my friend says. he is a real champion for the low paid. people who want to work hard and improve their circumstances. taking people out of taxes was helpful. we should look at national insurance. the priority is to help small businesses take people on. it is worth recognizing that three quarters of those jobs are full-time jobs. the country is getting stronger. the economy is improving. more people are getting into work and went to encourage that. >> order. >> europe and watching prime minister's questions from the british house of commons. at 7:00every wednesday a.m. eastern when parliament is in session and on sunday night at 9:00 p.m. on c-span. watch any time at www.an