i understand that in hexham, there will be a nine-hour forces celebration. when those servicemen and women are off duty, there will be discounts, as he said, from restaurants and pubs, so i expect that it might get a bit lively, and i am sure that he will join in the fun. >> angus robertson. >> a consequence of yesterday's budget and vat rise is 26.5 million pounds of new overheads for the nhs in scotland. having promised to ring-fence health spending, will the treasuryynow cover those costs, or will this be another broken promise, just like lib dem opposition to a vat rise before the election? >> of course, our action on national insurance contributions has saved the nhs money, which would not be available under a labour government. the point i would make is that that benefits scotland. the fact that we are protecting the nhs and nhs spending means that money will be available in scotland as well. the shadow health secretary has now said that health should not be protected, and that the nhs should be cut. that is now, take note, the official position. theel

in my constituency of hexham in northumberland we have hundreds of royal artillery servicemen who haveently returned from afghanistan and will receive the freedom of the town. when they are off duty, they will receive multiple discounts from dozens of stores, restaurants, and pubs that are doing their bit locally. does the prime minister agree that it is everyone's duty, not just in the house but all around the country, to go the extra mile and show the gratitude that we all have for our brave troops? >> i very much agree with my honorable friend. as i said earlier, this is something that the whole country

i understand that in hexham, there will be a nine-hour forces celebration. when those servicemen and women are off duty, there will be discounts, as he said, from restaurants and pubs, so i expect that it might get a bit lively, and i am sure that he will join in the fun. >> angus robertson. >> a consequence of yesterday's budget and vat rise is 26.5 million pounds of new overheads for the nhs in scotland. having promised to ring-fence health spending, will the treasury now cover those costs, or will this be another broken promise, just like lib dem opposition to a vat rise before the election? >> of course, our action on national insurance contributions has saved the nhs money, which would not be available under a labour government. the point i would make is that that benefits scotland. the fact that we are protecting the nhs and nhs spending means that money will be available in scotland as well. the shadow health secretary has now said that health should not be protected, and that the nhs should be cut. that is now, take note, the official position. the l