Point-by-point: Question time

The main points from prime minister's questions on Wednesday, 5 March, from 1200 GMT:

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's weekly session - which came ahead of a big debate and vote on whether to hold a referendum on the EU treaty - began with him paying tribute to Sgt Duane Barwood who was killed in Iraq last week.

In response to his first question, Mr Brown announced an increase in the minimum wage to £5.73 in October.

Conservative leader David Cameron asked if Mr Brown was confident that he would win a referendum on the EU treaty if one was called. Mr Cameron added: "All of us in this House promised a referendum. We have the courage of our convictions; you have lost your courage and that lot (the Liberal Democrats) have lost their convictions."

Mr Brown said the Conservative plans would put the UK's membership of the European Union at risk, which would put thousands of British jobs at risk. He said there had been a referendum on the EU in the 1970s and that was won overwhelmingly. He said the treaty would not create a "united states of Europe".

Mr Cameron said the treaty sounded like and looked like the constitution. He said people felt cheated and felt that politicians were breaking their promise to hold a referendum on the EU constitution.

Mr Brown said the EU treaty was not the constitution and did not have the same constitutional implications. He said there would have been a referendum on it if it was bringing in a new constitution for Europe. He accused Mr Cameron of failing to stand up to - and appeasing - eurosceptics in his party.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said Mr Brown had "bottled it" over putting the case for UK membership of the EU and said Mr Cameron wanted to leave the EU but did not have the courage to say so.

Gordon Brown denied the charges against him, and said his government was taking the lead on a long list of issues - he also attacked Mr Clegg's order to his MPs to abstain on the EU vote which is expected later on Wednesday.

In his second set of questions Mr Cameron raised the allegations faced by London Mayoral adviser Lee Jasper. He said the alleged activities were "completely unacceptable".

Mr Brown said allegations about the misuse of City Hall cash in London should be fully investigated by the police.

Mr Brown also paid tribute to the "historic role" in the Northern Ireland peace process played by the Rev Ian Paisley, who announced on Tuesday he would step down as First Minister in May.