it is a discussion with lots of other folks. >> our guest has been david mark. he co-authored "dog whistles, walk-backs and washington handshakes," with chuck mccutcheon. thanks very much for joining us. >> thanks for having me. ♪ >> for free transcripts or to give us your comments about this program, visit us at q-and-a.org. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2014] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] this thanksgiving week, c-span is featuring interviews from retired members of congress. watch the interviews monday through thursday at 8:00 p.m.

eastern. that to -- some of the people involved in congress back in the 1830's to 1860's. . henry clay, stephen douglas, these people were struggling desperately to try to work out compromises to keep the union of avoid it splitting up. >> i think we have a lot of talented younger members. it is not just, by the way, mrs. pelosi. i think she has been a great leader and she is really good at raising money, but that is not my forte. i was never good at that. traininghave to start younger people and bringing younger people into the caucus. to become hopefully the future leaders. ie of the things that

certainly believe with all my heart and soul, you have to know when to leave. >> also on thursday, we will take an american history tour of various native american tribes. that is at 10:00 a.m. eastern following "washington journal rig it at 1:30, attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the new diplomacy center in washington. supreme court justices at 8:30 p.m. eastern. that is this thanksgiving week on c-span. for our complete schedule, go to www.c-span.org. next, british prime minister david cameron takes questions at the house of commons. ofn, the farewell speech scottish first minister alex salmond, then a house hearing on cyber security threats. british lawmakers have returned

to parliament after a weeklong recess. prime minister david cameron took questions from members of the house of commons wednesday on a range of domestic and foreign-policy issues. they debated the implications of restricting benefits, the so-called bedroom tax, as opposed to taxing high-value homes with a mansion tax. this is about 35 minutes. >> order. questions for the prime minister. mr. jones. >> question number one. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i am sure the whole house will join me in condemning the senseless attack in a synagogue in west jerusalem this week, in which five people were killed. one of the victims was a dual israeli-uk citizen, rabbi avraham goldberg, and we send our deepest condolences to his family and friends, as well as to the families of the other victims. the families of the other victims. this was an appalling act of

terror. mr. speaker, this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, and in addition to my duties in this house, i shall have further such meetings later today. >> mr. speaker, i think the whole house would echo the comments of the prime minister regarding the incident in israel. i think it is a tragedy to think we are all deeply concerned about. mr. speaker, how confident is the prime minister -- to you kick? >> what i would say to everyone in this house is that there's only one way to secure and in-out referendum on the europe and that is to back a conservative victory of the next election. >> in 2007, in -- [shouting] >> order, order. he must be heard. >> thank you, mr. speaker.

in 2007 when conservatives begin control of the council following 30 years of labour mile administration we inherited the worst holy council housing in the country. i'm pleased to announced by the middle of next year all the homes in north westchester will meet decent home standards. will be joined and congressionally the contorted group and i agree with me that labour to pick the route when "the sun" is shining? >> i certainly join my friend and congressionally them in the work they've done. it's vital that we bring quality housing up to standard and the results they of that is good. it's important we get britain building that is now well underway. >> ed miliband. [shouting]

>> glad to see they are still cheering on friday, mr. speaker. i joined the prime minister in paying tribute to the rabbi whose murder in the horrific terrorist attack in jerusalem, and the other victims. this was an appalling act and all of my sympathies are with their families and friends. >> here, here. >> mr. speaker, can be transferred to what is so in favor of the bedroom tax and so against the mansion tax? >> first of all i make this prediction. the people behind it will still be cheering him on friday. [shouting] the point about -- the point about -- [shouting] >> when it comes -- when it comes to the views of close

colleagues, it is worth listing with the new shadow cabinet minister in charge of election, honorable lady sit next to the shadow chancellor said about the leader. said this, there's a wider concern in the public about whether he's got the leadership qualities to lead his own party. let alone the country but i knew it more than a labour movement. i just didn't know they were that high up. the point about the spare room subsidy is it is a basic issue of fairness. you don't get that subsidy if you're in private sector regular a combination so what are the shouldn't get it in public sector. it's a simple as that. >> and cases forgotten the two of the people behind him have just jumped ship. waiting to see if others follow. he tries to defend the bedroom tax. let me just tell him on the bedroom tax today the government

is going to court against a victim of domestic violence who's been raped, assaulted, harassed and stalked by her ex-partner and will be charged a bedroom tax on her panic room. is one of 280 victims of domestic violence in this category. candy just remind us why that is the right thing to do? >> this is why we have a discretionary housing payment system with money made available to counsel, and up to date that money has been understand. >> he doesn't know the facts. many of these victims of -- >> order. the answers from the prime minister haven't always been fully heard and they must be, and the questions from the leader of the opposition haven't always been fully heard, and they must be. i remind the house that that's what our voters, the electorate, would expect, some decent behavior, robust but courteous exchange.

mr. ed miliband. >> many of these victims of domestic violence are not getting the hardship payment. and protecting the victim of domestic violence should not be a matter of discretion. it is a matter of principal. [shouting] nothing better illustrates the contrast of values on the side of house and outside of the house. let's talk about the mansion tax. recently -- yeah, yeah. [shouting] recently in a penthouse in hyde park sold for 140 million pounds. is he really saying that someone in the house should pay the same amount of annual property tax as someone in the house worth a fraction of that value? >> we have made sure that there rich used in our country viticulture vision by putting out stamp duty. we put up stamp duty, we put a stamp duty on empty properties, charging foreigners probably to come and invest in our country. but the point about this is what

we need is a growing economy that is providing the jobs, the livelihoods for our people. that's what we are getting were as what he said in the last week is a pasting from a pop star. [shouting] >> that, mr. speaker, -- mr. speaker, that's exactly what i expected from this prime minister. he only feels the pain of people struggling to find a 2 million-pound garret. that is our permission. i will tell him why we need a matching tax because the nhs is going backwards on his watch. can he explain why this morning the nhs has missed its council waiting time targets for the fourth quarter in a row, by the half-dozen people with more than 60 days for treatment? >> we are not seeing a class act opposite i have to say. [shouting]

in the last week, trying to use been called useless, hopeless, out of this debt, doesn't cut it an absolute disaster that's just what the front bench thanks. [shouting] he asked about standards. the number of people treated for cancer is up 50% under this government. we put wellpoint 7 billion pounds extra into the nhs, money that was a responsible. and over 10 council standards we are meeting nine of them. >> he's got no answer on the nhs. this is what cancer research, this is a target that he pledged to me. this is what cancer research uk -- i know you don't want to listen. this isn't just about missed targets. thousands of patients are being failed. missing cancer target. they're doing a better job in wales for cancer.

he's missing his cancer target and is missing is a&e target the let me put it in terms he might answer. on his visit, has it time to finletpeople why the last threes nearly 4000 people waited more than four hours for a&e and more than 700 people waited for four hours on trolleys is because i'll tell them what is happening. nurses up by 2500 under this government. the number of doctors up by 8000 under this government. millions more patients treated all because we put in extra money that they said was a responsible. he made a point about whales. let me just give him the facts. the last time a&e targets were met in wales was march 2008. the last time the urgent cancer treatment was met in wales was 2008. what is the difference between wales and england? in england the tories are in

charge putting more money in, reforming our nhs, and in wales labour in charge cutting the nhs and missing targets. [shouting] >> the truth is the nhs is going backwards on his watch and the british people know it. we are going to campaign between now and the general election because he has failed on the nhs. we all know, mr. speaker, why this prime minister thinks a bedroom tax is great and the mansion tax upon the nhs a terrible. if you've got big money, you've got a friend in this prime minister. if you haven't come he couldn't care less. >> it's fair to say his week as a got any better. this was the week when my elite class wiped the floor with him in a television program and this was the week when he was an opinion poll in scotland the shows that more people believe in the loch ness monster and believe in his leadership.

[shouting] the only problem for the labour party, is he does actually exist. [laughter] >> you are all very kind. [laughter] mr. speaker, the impact of excessive the second homeownership on rural communities is to remove demand from british schools from rural surfaces and post offices but those services are often close as result. will he agree to increase or allow the increasing council tax on wealthy second homeowners to create a ring fenced fund to support those vital rural surfaces because we have allowed councils to charge more council tax on second homes. many have taken that event. i think he's right to say we do need to build more houses in order to make sure the village school, village post office, village pub get the support they need. under this government that's happening.

[inaudible] will the prime minister refute this? will he intervene in this reckless management of the northeast and stop this stupid closure now? >> welcome let me tell them what is actually happening in the nhs. first of all the clinical commissioning a group of funding is going up by 2% and more than 225 million toshiba on a specific issue, according to the figures, over 50,000 patients attended south side general hospital a&e, and of those 60% didn't require treatment. and that is what the new investment is going into the urgent care hub that is being proposed by the local managers and by the local clinicians in its constituency.

>> mr. speaker, unemployment has fallen i 60% in my constituency. youth unemployment is down by two-thirds, and across the country, the number in training and employment are set to exceed pre-recession levels. that's the prime minister agree with me that we are on the clerk path to improving living standards further for all? and the party opposite would put this into reverse the? >> my honorable friend is right. what we've seen in the last year is the biggest fall in unemployment since records began. with more people in work in our country than ever before in our history but we have seen the first rise in the minimum wage anhad been inflation since labour's disastrous recession. we take further steps by -- zero hours contract to our plan is

working as a bridge people are saying the results. there are still warning signs out there about the global economy we need to stick to our plan and deliver wealth and prosperity for our people. >> across the united kingdom the our two governments redistributing wealth from the poorest to the richest. -- [inaudible] to give money to our vital public services. and also a blanket bonus tax jobs guarantee for young people. [inaudible] doesn't this tell you that scotland received a clear choice quick you go to bed with -- and you wake up with this plan as prime minister. >> i'm afraid he's simply wrong because what's happening is that we see 500,000 more people in work in this year alone and we see cuts in unemployment and

upshur people claiming benefit in his own constituency. that is what is happening. i know it's not convenient for the labour now to but the fact is in the quality is a down. child poverty is down. the number of people and relative poverty is down but those are the facts. they don't like them but they can't hide from them. >> thank you. [laughter] sorry, i hadn't thought of the opportunity. the prime minister will know the same-sex marriage act was built on the twin pillars of a quality and support for marriage. with the now put a rocket under the chassis to make sure under this administration we can deliver the same rights for those who want to celebrate their marriage with our humanist? >> what was at the time of the debate in house of lord is it would be a consultation on this asia is exactly what's happening. >> north would park hospital --

and the closer of the department locally and containing weekday closure of alexander and other clinics, given hospital management believe an extra 120 medical bits are necessary and local people want to see the clinic fully reopen, will be transferred as the sector a state for address these concerns urgently? >> of course i will discuss with the suggested for health but i will do this in the context of what he knows which is in his own constituency, the a&e unit is getting a 21 million-pound upgrade and to to to open in december. that is because our long-term economic plan is working, putting money in the nhs and this goes to a bigger truth. you can only have a strong nhs if you have a strong economy. >> the prime minister has gone further than this process of recognizing our nuclear test spectrums but actions speak louder than words. given how poorly they've been

treated when compared to other countries and the fact that one in three of their children have a series medical condition, the 20% conception ending prematurely, and hope this pmq will be first unlucky with the government make an extra payment of 25 mine pounds into a charitable fund in order to those veterans and the sentence they need? will have to ask them what to do their duty and stand in front of a nuclear bomb. >> let me pay to do the honorable gentleman who has been dogged in pursuit of this important cause. is a very important ruling out today that a series applications and it's right we consider our response care what the i've asked the defense secretary to me with my front to discuss the obligations of the nuclear test of the community. i listen carefully to what he says about the fund. let me say this government has taken the time to do with some of the difficult issues such as war widows which were effectively saw last week,

long-term injustice of their not being battles for arctic convoy veterans, and i'm determined we deal with this issue. i hope you'll bear with me while we have some further discussions i do want u is to try to see a resolution to this issue. >> mr. speaker, given the prime minister's observation that red lights are flashing on the dashboard of the world economy would he agree in relation to northern ireland economy back to positive measures he could take very soon would be first of all to default corporation tax -- assembly, and secular put pressure on energy companies to reduce the price of home heating oil as well as capital and just because of their high dependence in northern ireland on the type of energy? would he take action on those immediately? >> i think my right audible jamaican port point. on and off grid heating oil and the cause, i think is more that needs to be done to put pressure on companies, not just in

northern ireland by the question that he can do. on corporation tax i've made in the commitments i've said before about what we will be sitting and when we'll be saying it. but i have to say as we address this issue we'll will have to look carefully at the northern ireland budget and make it to northern ireland budget is working in the government of northern ireland working because that is a very important part of the overall picture. >> this week i'm launching my late small business award. [shouting] on saturday the sixth of december. will the prime minister join me in congratulate small businesses that help generate the economic recovery and we commit to shopping mall, shopping local on small businesses saturday? >> i can certainly make that commitment and that's what i will be doing on saturday. i think small business that it is an excellent initiative and i would urge all honorary members

to get behind. in terms of helping small businesses it is worth noting we're cutting the jobs tax businesses and charities by up to 2000 pounds, abolishing national insurance contributions for under 21 year old comic standing the doubling of small bases rate release and we've got corporation tax to small business. small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and they know in this government they have got a true friend. >> you see where the bedroom tax will be remembered just like the tour at home tax which -- [inaudible] he should be ashamed. >> what the honorable john and others have to explain is why is it right that people in private rented accommodation who are claiming housing benefit don't get a spare room subsidy that they think people who are living in council housing should get the spare room subsidy? the second question they'll have to answer is why do they oppose

83 billion pounds of reduction in welfare that is helped us to maintain spending on health, spending on schools while taking 3 million of the poorest people out of tax altogether? [shouting] >> thank you, mr. speaker. earlier this year a 20 year-old was one of two girls murdered in my constituency by former partners. her partners since set up a trust. one of the objectives being to promote teaching personal social health and economic education in schools. it is mentioned in the new national curriculum but the trust feels he needs to be compulsory for all schools and that it needs to be taught by external specialist. will the prime minister help with this? >> i will look very counter to what my honorabl honorable frie. first of all i'd like to send my deepest condolences and those of all house to hollies family following her brutal murder. i would also like to pay tribute to the trust set up by her

family for this is called a program of classes aimed at educating people about domestic abuse. what we have said is that sex relationship should always include relationship education as well. that goes for all schools. >> thank you, mr. speaker. rants are skyhigh and house prices in brighton rose 13% in the last quarter alone. nurses wages were recommended to go up by 1% yet his government is blocking even this tiny rise. how does he expect hospitals like the royal sussex to be able to recruit enough nurses if they simply can't afford to live in the area? >> first of all we are making a huge investment in the royal suffixed hospital. it's to i have to say to the audible a when she's as house prices are rising under unaffordable, i've never come across a green party politicians in favor of building houses anywhere for anyone.

>> thank you, mr. speaker. during his recent visit, the prime minister will have seen it firsthand of increasingly severe traffic issues. can i thanked him for ushering the local growth of you will deliver a new crossing near the town center? can ask them what we need is a new high level crossing, something that's been planned but not delivered for nearly 30 years? >> i will look for carefully of what my honorable friend says. i enjoyed my visit to his constituency and he's right, i could see the problems of congestion but i could also see a long-term economic plan in his constituency is working in terms of jobs and growth. he's right about the local growth of you which is a deal worth over 149 pounds in terms of government funding. this does include support for the new swing bridge which will help to tackle the congestion as well as unlocking important building sites as well.

>> the people of northern ireland welcome the success of the assistance through the secret recordings made by the british intelligence services and bring some suspected terrorists including terrorist godfather's to court. however, there is anger that officials close and illicit fuel plant every 10 days in northern ireland. does a prime minister a great this is an intolerable situation? >> first of all no one who commits crimes in northern ireland should be immune from prosecution and i think he is right to pay tribute to those over the last few years have i think shown just what an extraordinary capable police force they are. we should remember how, the

conditions they were built at the point about the national credit agency is important but we'd like to see the work of the national crime agency which i think is proving itself in operation after operation not just in united kingdom but right around the world. it should be playing a part in northern ireland. that's the discussion we need to with all the parties of the help overtime we can get everyone to see the sense of having this important organization. >> thank you, mr. speaker. christians and others have been murdered for their faith in nigeria, syria, iraq, pakistan and many other countries, and elsewhere the crime -- would my right honorable friend agree that our united kingdom stand above all for freedom of speech, thought and belief and we must do all in our power to protect the persecuted and stand up to the persecutors, who i was a our? >> i very much agree with my honorable friend and he's right

to make this go such a cause that he presses in this house and outside his house. written as a proud record of both political and religious tolerance and, of course, the freedom of speech. in our dealings with other countries we should always make clear we believe that is the right approach. there's an appalling amount of persecution of religious minorities around the world and some nasa christians or more persecuted than other religions into many countries, and he named some of them. we should make sure the heart of our foreign policy is this key issue of religious tolerance. >> to reports released osha local efforts are equipped to deal with child sex exploitation but in addition, police officer being investigated for failing victims of abuse. i raise all these issues in april. i've raced with ministers, with pmqs. what will it take for this government to help a foldable people? >> first of all let me commend honorable lady for the work she's done on this issue but i think it's important within the lessons of what happened in the

city of oxford near my constituency to vanessa. the reported is important because most important lesson it draws is you have to get every agency whether it's the police or social service our schools all working together. that is not happening in enough of our towns and cities and it needs to but in terms what this government is doing the home office is leading this effort, getting to th partners to work together and convinced we will make good progress. >> on the subject of immigration, green corps, a large sandwich making company, article 1100 people comment expanding massively thanks to the long-term economic plan. but there were reports are looking to our staff from hungary. is that right that were as labour want to that's what they gave this country for 13 you can the message to the people is this government that there are jobs in this country for people for north hampton and we be a

bacon short of a platter if we forgot that. >> i think the case of green corps shows that what you need is not just proper immigration control both within the eu and outside the eu, but you also need to see welfare reform so it's not an option for people to live on welfare when they could work. you also need to see as we're doing education reform so young people are leaving our schools and able to take on the jobs that are available. a proper sanctions regime is actually part of a strong immigration policy. >> in december last year a prime minister visited my constituency and promised there would be 200 extra key morning commuter seats

by the end of the year. last week, i met the train operator who said that they don't know how many seats there will be and they don't know when they will be available. certainly not by the end of the year. can he explain why his promise is being broke? >> we are making huge investment into rail services in and around greater manchester, including in his own constituency. on the specific case that he races i will write to him with the details. >> mr. speaker, is the prime minister aware that over the past year unemployment has fallen but a very well 770? disagree with me one should look kind of figures and statistics and see nearly 800 families that have a new breadwinner and a brighter future? is this not yet another vindication of the top job he and his counselor had to take? >> i think my honorable friend makes an important point.

the claimant count is down by 50% since the election and the youth claimant count is coming down by 52% in the last year alone. if you look at the figures released today they showed that people have been in work for a year or more have seen their wages go up by 4%, more than twice the rate of inflation. of course, that is their wages before the tax reduction that his government has made because we have been a careful student of the nations finances. what we do with the labour is no growth, no jobs, and higher taxes. >> the prime minister apparently -- [inaudible] and the act imposed it was a mistake. my bill on friday is an opportunity for him to put write some of those mistakes and repeal our national health service but it's backed by the bush medical association, the royal college of nurses from the royal college of midwives,

unison, unite and others represent -- [shouting] never have somebody people been united against their government about the bill that will impose an unabashed health service but will be back my bill on friday? not now, not ever? [shouting] >> at least we now know was paying for his bill anyway. [laughter] let me make a couple of points to the honorable gentleman. independent providers made up 5% of the nhs under labour. they now make up just 6% of the nhs. a government that had the sweetheart deal was the independent sector was the party opposite who handed the money in return for contracts. what we see in the nhs, 2500 more nurses, 8000 more doctors, more patients being treated, and nhs that is succeeding because we made the reforms and we put in the money.

>> last but not least mr. gordon birtwistle. >> thank you. thank you, mr. speaker. in 2009 -- black spots. in 2014 unemployment has fallen to 3.5%. we are no longer a black spot. could i advise my right honorable friend -- [inaudible] economic plan is working? >> first of all can i thank him for what he says. but also commend him -- [shouting] commit his leadership on fight for more apprenticeship, more skills, more training, for young people. it is succeeding. the long-term economic plan is succeeding as it is in the rest of the country. [shouting]

>> question time airs live on c-span 2 and sunday at 8:00 p.m. eastern pacific and eastern -- eastern and pacific on c-span. british prime minister david cameron appeared before a parliamentary committee on wednesday to answer questions on the u.k.'s relationship with scotland after the independence referendum. on september 18, scotland voted in favor of staying in the united kingdom. the two nations are working on issues such a social security, health, transportation and public financing. made up of committee chairman of the house of commons select committee. the questions to the prime minister are not provided in advance.