on sheffield forgemasters, the right honorable gentleman knows that the problem was simply one of affordability. lord mandelson was writing out checks to companies like forgemasters, which he knew would bounce, all the while writing in his memoirs, "we were deep in a pit of debt and still digging." that was what was wrong. it was wrong to pretend that there could be government assistance for a great company like sheffield forgemasters when, as the former chief secretary to the treasury said, there was "no money left". >> i find it surprising that the deputy prime minister, who has preached the importance of open, transparent and honest politics, cannot bring himself to correct the record of something that was plainly wrong. the explanation that he is now offering is not the one that he offered previously. that explanation was about the dilution of the company's shareholding -- the same explanation that the prime minister offered the house. the prime minister told the house on 7 july, "the question is whether it is an appropriate use of taxpayers' money to give it to a business that could raise

. >> the chief executive of sheffield forgemasters, dr graham honeyman, was last year presented withifetime achievement award by the institute of directors, but various government front benchers have made unwarranted personal attacks on him in the media. will the prime minister apologize now for those unjustified attacks on a highly regarded business man? >> hear, hear. >> i am sorry to disagree with the honorable lady, but no one has made an attack. this is an excellent company. is an excellent business. -- it is an excellent business. appropriate use of taxpayers' money to give it to a business that could raise that money by diluting its shareholding. labour simply does not understand. it handed out money before the election without asking whether it was value for money. no wonder we are in such a complete mess. >> the uk has a splendid reputation for the quality of its agricultural science and research, and these skills will be needed to face up to the challenges of climate change and an increasing world population. will the prime minister confirm that government and eu policy dec

sheffield forgemasters is one of those companies.l the prime minister therefore now accept that he was wrong to criticize its shareholders for seeking a loan from the government? they were not seeking to line their own pockets. they have not yet taken a penny in dividends. what they were seeking to do was ensure the future of that company and other jobs in the uk. >> the honorable lady talks about the importance of firms being owned by their own employees. i am looking forward to her support and the support of every labour member when we make sure that the post office has that sort of ownership model and we get the investment going as well. i will take that as a yes, then. >> gary streeter. >> about 5,000 young people a year leave local authority care, and without parental support, many of them end up on the streets or in our prisons. do the new government have any plans to intervene more effectively in the lives of that very vulnerable group, to try to improve their life chances? >> my honorable friend is absolutely right to raise t