Prime Minister's Questions

Tony Blair has faced questions in the Commons for the last time before parliament adjourns for the summer recess.

BBC News Online political correspondent Nyta Mann gives her verdict on the exchanges, followed by point-by-point coverage of the 30 minute event.

Nyta Mann's verdict:

Tony Blair's last question time before the summer break was a classic end-of-term affair, with everyone a little demob-happy as they prepare to leave Westminster for seven weeks.

Mr Blair's government has staggered towards the recess like a desert traveller approaching an oasis - they see it in front of them, but getting there has been torture.

Iain Duncan Smith guaranteed Alastair Campbell's job for at least the short term by demanding that the prime minister sack him forthwith

But at last, it's arrived - and you could tell.

The prime minister, batting away an early question about slumping levels of trust in his administration, responded with the standard peroration on high employment, low interest rates and all-round wonderfulness of the economy under New Labour.

He even joined in the off-on-holiday laughter from all sides.

Iain Duncan Smith put in a decent though unstartling performance to send his troops off with.

The Tory leader managed to neatly wrap weapons of mass destruction, a new "stranger to the truth" variation on his "nobody believes a word he (Blair) says" soundbite and the prime minister's reliance on Alastair Campbell into just one of his questions.

He went on to spoil the impact by then throwing the Hindujas, Geoffrey Robinson, Lakshmi Mittal, Bernie Ecclestone and the kitchen sink in too. He then guaranteed Mr Campbell's job for at least the short term by demanding that the prime minister sack him forthwith.

It all drew the worst possible insult from Mr Blair - that the Tory leader was guilty of "opportunism worthy of the Liberal Democrats."

Ouch. The prime minister is deeply irritated with the Lib Dems this summer.

Like prime minsters before him Mr Blair has come to learn that the further you are from home, the warmer the welcome

They have persisted in making a nuisance of themselves - questioning him over weapons of mass destruction, voting and agitating against foundation hospitals and tuition fees, attacking his criminal justice bill.

Hell, their behaviour is almost as bad as many of his own backbenchers.

For Mr Blair, the long recess comes not a moment too soon. Little has gone right for him since the Commons returned from its spring break.

First, there was the messiest reshuffle anyone remembers, followed by swelling revolts over foundation hospitals and tuition fees.

The House of Lords has just thrown out plans to limit the right to trial-by-jury.

The row about who knew what, how, where and when about weapons of mass destruction refuses to go away.

David Kelly, fingered by the MoD as the BBC's mole and dragged blinking into the spotlight of the foreign affairs committee on Tuesday, only left MPs concluding he could not have been Andrew Gilligan's "deep throat".

Mr Blair flies to Washington on Thursday, and is probably deeply relieved to be doing so. Like prime minsters before him he has come to learn that the further you are from home, the warmer the welcome.

Point-by-point coverage of the exchanges:

Prime Minister's question time began at 1201 BST in the Commons.

Tory Christopher Chope asked Mr Blair if he shared his concern that two thirds of the British people did not trust the prime minister.

Mr Blair said low interest rates and inflation, alongside increased funding for schools and hospitals, were welcomed by the electorate.

The prime minister told Labour MP Jim Knight that he was determined that new laws on criminal justice, opposed by the Tories and Lib Dems, would go through parliament.

Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith asked Mr Blair to apologise to the official named by the government as the possible source for a story about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Mr Blair said the BBC could end the row by naming their source.

Mr Duncan Smith said civil servant Dr David Kelly was being used as a "fall guy" for the government.

Mr Blair said it was clear that the government didn't know who the source of the story was - but the BBC could clear up the confusion.

Mr Duncan Smith said Mr Blair and communications chief Alastair Campbell had created a culture of deceit in government.

The Tory leader said the prime minister should now sack Mr Campbell.

The prime minister said the Tory leader had supported the government over Iraq. He said the Tory position now was "opportunism worthy of the Liberal Democrats".

Ian Causey urged Mr Blair to make an early announcement about a contract to build Hawk Jets being given to British Aerospace, and so secure 2,000 jobs in his Yorkshire.

Mr Blair replied that the government wanted to do the best for the British defence industry, but added that the decision had to be taken with the costs borne in mind.

Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy asked about the September dossier on Iraq.

He said the evidence from Dr Kelly had shown that a claim about Iraq using weapons in 45 minutes was doubtful.

Mr Blair said it was clear from Dr Kelly's evidence that Iraq had a weapons of mass destruction programme.

He again said it was wrong to suggest that the government had inserted the 45 minutes claim into the dossier.

Mr Kennedy asked if the claim was based on "substance and fact".

Mr Kennedy called for an independent judicial inquiry on the affair.

Mr Blair said the intelligence in the dossier was cleared by intelligence chiefs and there was therefore no case for an independent inquiry.

Asked about the Shipman inquiry, Mr Blair said it was important to realise that the case did not reflect on the work of GPs in the country.

He said the government would look carefully at the recommendations of the report.

Cheryl Gillan, a Tory MP, asked Mr Blair to stand by his word not to abolish grammar schools.

Mr Blair said he would stand by his word on the issue. He said the most important thing was to look at school results for all schools and see that results are improving.

Jeff Ennis, a Labour MP, urged consideration for legislation on corporate killing.

Mr Blair said the government was committed to introducing such legislation.

Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith returned to the fray to ask about the rating system for hospitals.

Mr Duncan Smith said patients would be better off ignoring the "ratings gimmick" because they are aimed at meeting political targets.

Mr Blair said the indicators cover a wide range of areas which is why it is sensible to provide the information.

The Tory leader said the "whole set up was a gimmick".

Mr Duncan Smith said bureaucrats and gimmicks were being put before patients.

Mr Blair said there had been big reductions in waiting lists for patients in Mr Duncan Smith's own constituency.

Mr Blair said Tory health spokesman Liam Fox had said the NHS was not working - the government was not going to follow that policy, the prime minister said.

Ian Lucas asked about community support officers and said his Wrexham constituents would welcome more.

Mr Blair said he would take that into account and said community support officers would help to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Michael Weir MP said the prime minister was in conflict with UN arms inspectors, the BBC and the CIA - was that a problem caused by a dodgy prime minister?

Mr Blair said that the UK did the right thing in taking action against Saddam Hussein.

Lynne Jones asked about claims that Saddam had tried to buy uranium from Niger. She asked confusion over the claim was a breach of resolution 1441.

Mr Blair said he stood by his comments on the claims - saying UK intelligence was not based on forged documents, unlike the US evidence.

Labour MP Michael Foster said pensioners were better off under Labour, but needed help to ensure they claimed what they were owed.

Mr Blair said the new pensioner credit would help many people along with other measures to aid pensioners.

Andrew Robathan, a Tory MP, asked for reassurance that the UK people were not duped into going to war in Iraq.

Mr Blair said the Tories had been urging action on Iraq before the war and said he stood entirely behind evidence in the September dossier on Iraq.

He said the whole of the UN security council had agreed that Iraq needed to be tackled.

Labour MP Andy King said research was needed on how much money pensioners and others needed in order for a healthy life.

Mr Blair said he was happy to meet with the MP.

Lib Dem MP Paul Marsden said homelessness was increasing in the UK and Mr Blair had failed some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Mr Blair said he was concerned by increases, but pointed out cuts in the number of rough sleepers.

Paul Farrelly MP asked what steps the government was taking to cut crime and anti-social behaviour over and above that action already being taken.

Mr Blair said it was important to introduce more police officers and get anti-social behaviour legislation through the Commons - including plans being opposed by the Tories and Lib Dems.

Angela Watkinson asked if there was a need for reform in school examinations in the light of the Tomlinson report.

Labour MP John McDonnell said less mail was being handled via rail and said this contradicted the goverment's transport and environmental policy.

Mr Blair said he understood the concerns, but said the government had to be careful about compelling companies to do things not in their commercial interest.

Tory MP Dominic Grieve said Mr Blair was badly briefed on the criminal justice bill.

Mr Blair said the Tories should end their opposition to plans to restrict the right to trial by jury.

Labour MP Tony Cunningham said people who drink and drive and kill must face tougher jail sentences.

Mr Blair said the government was looking at tougher penalties for drink-drivers.