Blair welcomed back to Commons

The 50-year-old was looked after in hospital for more than five hours

MPs from all sides have welcomed Prime Minister Tony Blair back to the House of Commons three days after a heart scare.

Mr Blair was cheered as he took the weekly half hour question time, with Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith commenting that he was "personally glad to see that you are back to full health".

Liberal Democrat Alan Beith welcomed Mr Blair's "rapid return to robust health".

In a side-swipe at Mr Duncan Smith, who faces continuing reports of unrest over his leadership, he added: "Indeed, I'd like to see all three party leaders remain in robust health and leaders of their parties."

Peace talks

Mr Blair, who on Sunday was ordered to rest for 24 hours after hospital treatment for an irregular heartbeat, thanked the MPs for their "good wishes".

Later, on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Blair made light of his health problems in a speech to public services in central London.

He said that when he had told the event's organisers he had no set speech, they had told him: "That's fine, just speak from the heart."

"It could be a difficult speech, therefore," joked Mr Blair.

Noting the waiting photographers, Mr Blair added: "So here I am, I feel great, as you can see."

The prime minister was more serious in his Commons question session, with the stalled talks on the Northern Ireland peace process the main topic.

Mr Blair has just returned from Hillsborough where he met Irish prime minister Bertie Ahearn.

He said it was the first time that Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams had stated that the Good Friday agreement "remains the end of the conflict in Northern Ireland".

Onb a different note, Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy said Labour had opposed student top-up fees in its manifesto but was now legislating to make them possible - suggesting that it was difficult for the public to trust Mr Blair.

Violent crime

The prime minister replied by saying that he had been looking at Lib Dem spending promises - "good relaxation" he said - and had concluded the Lib Dems were the ones who could not be trusted because they were promising something for nothing.

Everybody in the real world knows crime has risen - only in Blair world is crime coming down Iain Duncan Smith

In his second questioning session Mr Duncan Smith said that last year, for the first time in history, there were more than one million victims of violent crime, which showed that Mr Blair's government "has totally failed".

The prime minister warned the Tory leader he was on difficult ground because his party was opposed to provisions in the Criminal Justice Bill, which is going through the Lords, designed to combat violent, gun and organised crime.

But Mr Duncan Smith hit back: "Everybody in the real world knows crime has risen - only in Blairworld is crime coming down."

When it comes to crime, "nobody believes a word you say anymore", added Mr Duncan Smith.

'Inter-stellar vandalism'

Labour MP Tom Harris drew laughter when he raised the issue of "inter-stellar vandalism", saying light pollution was preventing children from growing up able "to see the beauty of the night sky".

Mr Blair replied, to chuckles: "I'm a little bit outside my area of expertise on this."

He welcomed the report of the Commons science and technology select committee, which addressed the issue, and pledged that the government would respond soon.

On genetic modification, Mr Blair said it was "important to proceed by science", insisting that the government's only interest in the debate was in doing "the right thing".