in half. we have done that through a combination of reducing public spending, of making sure we have responsible tax policy and strong economic growth. that is what we've delivered. all the way through, the labour party's proposals have been for more spending, more borrowing and more debt. they haven't even got to base camp of working out why the deficit matters. >> as the member privileged to represent the home of the british army, established as a direct result of the inquiry of the crimean war, may i ask my right honorable friend, prime minister, to reassure me that press reports this morning that the discussions about the regular army's already-low level of 82000, are totally unfounded and so long as he remained prime minister strictly no such , cuts will be contemplated? >> i can actually give him the

that -- assurance that these ideas are not on the table. >> i would like to start with unemployment. i have to add that is not the case in my constituency. unemployment has lessened slightly. the value of wages has dropped over the last year by one and a half percent. if we will continue to rise above, -- >> what i am saying to the lady is, if you look at scotland as a whole, unemployment is down by 20,000, and the rate of

unemployment in scotland is also down. and as the rate of unemployment in scotland is lower than the rate of unemployment in london. so the idea that this recovery is only being felt in the south of our country is simply nonsense. she mentions the issue of wages. one of the most powerful things we can do to help people with the cost of living is to take them out of income tax. and in scotland we've taken 23,000 people out of income tax altogether, and over 2 million people are benefiting from the personal allowance changes that have already helped people to the tune of over 700 pounds a year. >> glen davis. >> mr. speaker, the dairy industry underpins the economy of rural britain, including that of my constituency of montgomeryshire the dairy industry is currently in difficulty. does the prime minister accept the government must consider always to bring stability to this important sector, including the powers of the grocery -- should

-- adjudicator should be extended and strengthened? >> >> i very much agree with my honorable friend and i think it is important that we look at how we can support britain's dairy farmers at a time of very low milk prices. this is an important industry for our country. we can make sure revenue is prepared with the time to pay support for the dairy farmers. there is more we can do for leading exports for british food producers. specifically in the grocery co. adjudicator. it is time to make sure that organization has the power to levy fines so it get its will of obeyed. it is time to look at whether there are ways in which it can be extended to make sure it looks at more of this vital industry. >> >> thank you, mr. speaker. [inaudible] a quarter of our children are living in poverty.

this prime minister's policies are failing families. a year ago, you said you wanted to see seven pounds national minimum wage. will the prime minister tell me why his government commission makes no mention of this? >> our evidence to the low pay commission says we need another increase in the minimum wage. and it's only under this government that we've seen a minimum wage increase ahead of inflation , which never happened while labour were presiding over economic chaos. that's the truth. but let me explain to the honorable lady. she is going to have to explain to her constituents why labour is the -- labor's minimum wage would actually cut the minimum wage in the next parliament. that is how incompetent and useless her front bench are. the best thing we can do is keep growing the economy, keep creating jobs, keep cutting taxes because we are on track and the plan is working. [shouting] >> thank you, mr. speaker.

there has been a spate of dog fights in my constituency. murphy was a husky who has been stolen recently. it is stressful for dog owners. some of these dogs are used for practice for dogfight. who knows what happens to the other dogs stolen? will the prime minister give attention to these problems and make sure the authorities investigate this? >> i think my honorable friend makes an important point, which is what are a nation of dog lovers. people are attached to our pets and it's appalling when they get , stolen, particularly for the sort of purposes that my honorable friend talks about. the changes made in terms of compulsory chipping should help with this issue but my heart goes out to anyone who is

-- has seen and much loved pet taken away from them. >> mr. speaker, as the prime minister looks back over his achievements as prime minister in the last five years, and what he might be doing in the first few months for the next parliament or might not be doing, would he accept that, in order to keep this country strong at home and abroad, and further to the question asked by the right honorable gentleman, will he commit to defense spending of 2% of gdp in order to ensure that our commitments are nato allies are maintained and that our country is secure? >> we are one of the few nato countries that does achieve 2% of spending on defense, and because of that, you are going to see in the coming months and year, a defense equipment program which i think is second to none in europe. two aircraft carriers, submarines strike fighters frigates. you can see a strong defense industries of or by our

commitment that the defense equipment program should be protected. >> order. >> you have been watching prime minister's questions from the house of commons. question time is live on c-span to every wednesday at 7:00 eastern, and on sunday nights at 9:00 eastern on c-span. watch anytime at c-span.org, where you will find video of past prime minister's questions and other british public affairs programming. next, senate minority leader harry reid outlines the democratic agenda. we will have a discussion about white house communication strategy and its relation with the news media. later, q&a with author andrew keen. minority leader senator harry reid discussed the democratic agenda, and provided an update on his injuries sustained from a

neck's or size accident earlier this month. this is about 15 minutes. >> hello everyone. glad to be back. the first thing i want to say is, all you have to do is look around. cyber attacks in north korea the deaths in belgium, and in france, and we now are facing a question here in the united states, whether we will fund homeland security. i think this is so out of line.

we should put a bill of the president's desk assumes possible -- as soon as possible. we need to get it done now. countries around the world, as we speak, their number of announcements in europe yesterday about increasing funding for homeland security. we are trying to level funding. this is outrageous. questions? >> can you talk about your recovery? >> i know there are a lot of rumors asked what happened. it is very simple. my wife and i were in our new home, i was doing exercises that i've been doing for many years with those large rubber bands. one of them broke and spun me around and i crashed into these cabinets.

i injured my eye. it did not not the out, but it sure hurt. i was taken to the hospital, and came back here after a couple days. i have some bones broken around my eye, and on monday, as i understand, they are going to fix that. they will reconstruct the bones the bone that is broken is this one right here. it has been pushed in. they will move that back out. because of the injury, there is blood in the front and back of my eye. they will reconstruct that bone there, and they will drain the blood off this part of the eye, the back part of the eye. they are confident i will be

quite good after that. >> senator, are you worried about your vision? have you saw -- spoken to senator mcmaster deck of deco >> nothing is changed in the time that i was in the first couple weeks of recovery. my staff continued to review material for my new campaign. we have quite an operation in nevada that has not lost a step. we are off and running. >> are you fearful about your sight? what >> no. >> i am sorry deco >> the bill that would cause more sanctions in iran? >> right now, we have a moving

target. i am personally doing everything in my thoughts and wishes to push negotiations to succeed. until we have something definite on the floor, i will not speculate on what i am going to do. right now, we have not had a markup, we have not had a hearing. i will wait until that happens. there are a number of different proposals by different senators. i will because this and deliver it in what i look at. >> [inaudible] >> understand this. the success of a congress is not determined by how many amend and's people vote on. the success of this congress will be determined on what

happens to the middle class. the republicans, during the six years of the obama administration, are very cynical. they opposed everything we did. the middle class has been hurt hurt, hurt. i believe this congress will be determined, the a success or failure, on what happens to the middle class. right now, foreign oil is being shipped other places. that does not help the middle class. >> when do the doctor say he will be back to 100%? >> i met with the doctor yesterday and he was confident i would be fine. they told me i will be down for several days next week, but there is no reason i cannot come back to work monday.

>> you have been critical [inaudible] >> i have always been suspect of this trade agreement. i do not support it. i am not being shown that these trade agreements have helped the middle class. i would be happy to see my eyes wide open, and something -- if something changes come i will change. but it it is not -- until it is shown to me that these trade agreements will help the middle class, i will stay off the bandwagon. >> tell us a little bit about how you spend your day, and also, what is going through your mind as you watch the senate from afar. >> as some of you know, i am an avid reader. i read lots of books.

during the break, because i have not been able to read, they have told me that if you have a -- and i that is healing and you try and overwork your good i -- your good eye, last night i was able to read. i have been listening to audiobooks. i have enjoyed it, to be honest. i never thought i would. i have finished a couple books that way. i have spent a lot of time with my staff on the telephone. i have had staff meetings at my home. i have had -- my daughter has been dealing with me. i have friends coming over this weekend. i'm doing fine. >> [inaudible] on the floor yucca >> we have been in touch on a daily basis.

i hope -- i have been involved in everything that has gone on the floor. there have been no surprises. >> [inaudible] >> i think he is doing fine. >> talk about what concussion symptoms you experienced, and what kind of treatment you are getting. >> to my knowledge, i am not getting treatment for a concussion. i do have a better understanding of football players in baseball players who have concussions. no one has told me i have had one, but perhaps i have. >> are you looking at liability lawsuits deco?

>> [inaudible] on a personal matter, given the [inaudible] have you given any thought to [inaudible] and the plans [inaudible] since your accident? >> i am fully intending to run. >> were you consultant -- consulted by senator boehner on the netanyahu address? was that bipartisan? >> here is how i feel about that. i have a good relationship, he called me up about my injury and i appreciate it. he is the leader of a country, and he will come to a joint session in congress, and we will listen to what he has to say. >> at this stage is very

circumstance that may actually change that decision? >> this question was asked during the break. >> your predecessor in the democratic whip role, senator ford has to wait this morning. do you have comments on his passing, any stories deco >> wendell ford was a unique man. as a new senator, i met with him. only those who know wendell ford would appreciate what i am paraphrasing. he said, i am from kentucky, i drink kentucky bourbon. i smoke kentucky cigarettes all the time. i was his successor. he was a fine man, great

background. >> when you come back the following week, will you be back at a hundred percent? >> i hope to be back full-time. i may not be doing everything i was doing before, but i'm doing pretty well. i am exercising again. there are things i cannot do, strength stuff but i am walking , i have worked up where i am walking out there for an hour. how are my ribs yucca? i broke four

ribs. >> senator reid, have you been paying attention to the controversy around -- >> honestly, my first opportunity to read, i did what i did before i got hurt. i read the sports page first. i do that because there is such good news. in the sports page. i have been fascinated, in recent days, with matt scherz are -- scherzer. i missed my sports activities. as far as how much weight in a football, i cannot believe the nfl, with the billions of dollars they make, could not at least determine how much air could be in a football, why it

should be left up to the team. >> what have you been told about your eye? >> we talk about a lot of things. i have not talked to him. >> people are confused about your injury. you alluded to rumors -- what really happened deco? >> we did not fill it. -- film it. there is nothing more that i can say. >> is your left eye, what is the vision in your left eye? >> 20/20. >> are you in any -- >> what? >> are you in any pain? >> it is not like a spinal injury. but it does hurt.

i take tylenol once in a while. >> [inaudible] >> now, a look ahead at what is next for congress this week. >> joining us with a look at the week ahead and the week just passed, we are joined by lisa mosquera who covers the house. you tweet that the gop's tough border security bill is headed for a vote in the house early next week. what are some of the details of this bill, and what does it tell

you about the overall strategy of house republicans on immigration? >> this is the bill that is up next week. this is a tough border security bill. chairman mike mccall of texas is calling it the toughest border security bill out there. this is the first foray republicans are trying to make on the immigration issue. republicans have been very displeased with president obama's executive action from late last year, when the president put together proposals that are now being implemented to defer deportation for up to five million immigrants here illegally in the country. republicans want to respond to that and one way to do that is take a look at their own ideas for immigration. first up is the border bill. it is a tough bill, it requires completing a 700 mile fence around the border.

it requires the department of homeland security to have operational control of the border, some of the hot spots where crossings happen they have to have that under control within the first two years. then, 100% control of the border shortly after that. the bill passed out of the committee last week. it looks like it will enjoy support in the house. >> let's move on to the abortion bill. you wrote about the emerging clout from moderate republicans saying that you expect this group to influence other legislation, like the border bill in the house this year. what influence will this have in the house, and what influence on conservatives in the party? >> it is interesting what happened last week. it was a first rising up of -- we say, don't call the moderate. these are conservative republicans, most of the members in the house who had concerns about the abortion bill are pro-life, antiabortion

conservative republicans. they had concerns about the details the bill is written, and they voiced their concerns. leadership ended up backing off the bill and putting forward another bill. that coupled with an earlier boat we saw -- vote we saw, and immigration vote two weeks ago when a number of republicans, 26 house republicans, declined to go along with part of a planned the party put forth to roll back those executive actions by president obama that would help d further deportations for the young immigrants. these republican said, no. i do not want to do that. this is really a new flexing of that point of view, after the last four years where we have seen a more conservative, harder-right approach from republicans in the house and senate. >> that seem to come out during their retreat.

let's move on to the senate. the keystone xl pipeline bill that kept reporters busy in the capital the other night. there was an interesting exchange between the senate majority leader, mitch mcconnell, and also the assistant minority leader, dick durbin, on the amendment process. what happened there, and what might this mean for the future of the bill next week? >> what you have seen played out on the senate floor for the last several weeks, is what senate mcconnell promised as far as taking over the issue and republicans -- he wants to return to regular order, let the senate go through, vote after vote, on different amendment some -- senators might want to offer on a big important bill like the keystone bill. what happened was, that greenwich trouble last night. senators, the majority leader and the assistant leader senator ervin, or having disagreements about how to

proceed on the number of amendments, the time allowed for debating the amendment. senate -- senator mcconnell let the democrats behind, plowed forward and began making most -- motions to table the amendments. the senator stayed till midnight last night tabling amendments. now, they are almost with the amendment process. but it left raw feelings on the democratic side that felt like democrats felt senator mcconnell was not holding up his promise to keep the open amendment process going. of course, senator mcconnell says he tried, that the democrats were stonewalling on getting an agreement on how to proceed. that is a bit of a standoff. it left people raw, with raw emotions in the senate.

they will have a key vote on the keystone pipeline, to advance the bill they need a 60-vote threshold to advance it. republicans only have 54 votes. republicans will need to get democratic senators who support the pipeline on board. we will see if they do that monday. >> thanks, lisa. you can keep following her at lisa mosquera, and at l.a. times.com. thanks a lot. >> now, a look at white house communications strategies and the relationship with the press corps. you will hear from anita dunn, communications director during the early days of the obama administration, and press secretary under george w. bush. this is one hour.

>> welcome back. i would like to introduce our moderator for the panel, the white house: view from the inside. and compton has covered sent -- 10 presidential campaigns. she also served a one-year term as president of the white house correspondents's association. she has traveled to all 50 states and six continents with american presidents, vice presidents, and first ladies and she has also been a panelist on two presidential campaign debates. she has shared in an emmy for her coverage is the only broadcast reporter on--- on air

force one during september 11. she has been inducted into six halls of fame and has received multiple honorary degrees and lifetime achievement awards. one fun fact is that her husband found she was number 12 down in the sunday new york times crossword puzzle. [laughter] please welcome ann compton. [applause] >> thank you. thank you very much. i have a frequent attendee -- i'm a frequent attendee at these seminars. this is the icing on the cake beauty have heard from some of the most influential voices in washington. you are going to get a chance to hear from