Key points: Tony Blair's news conference

The prime minister held his monthly news conference on Thursday - here are the key points in order of subject.

Tony Blair's future

The prime minister said people would have to look at him and judge "how the patient is" in the wake of last weekend's heart scare.

The prime minister said he would not undertake to have a health check like the US president - the results of which are published - joking he did not follow the Americans "slavishly" on everything.

Mr Blair laughed off suggestions about the future of his leadership and refused to be drawn into speculation about the future of Iain Duncan Smith.

Mr Blair said there were no plans to change the living accommodation at Numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street in the wake of the birth of Gordon and Sarah Brown's son John.

Crime

Mr Blair said tackling crime was not just about legislation and he insisted that New Labour had not given up on being "tough on the causes of crime".

He highlighted investment in poorer areas of the UK and cash going into education.

The prime minister criticised the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats for their opposition to elements of the government's criminal justice bill.

On anti-social behaviour the government was pressing ahead with its "comprehensive strategy", he said.

Education

The prime minister said unless universities were funded properly and lecturers paid competitively then standards would slip.

Mr Blair said the government was looking at how it could provide help for the poorest undergraduates.

Mr Blair said the real issue as to whether people went to university or not were A-level results and not fear of debt.

Mr Blair said he had no intention of getting rid of charitable status for public schools saying the issue was "one of the great diversions".

The answer to problems in the state sector was to raise standards not to wage war on private schools.

Tax

Mr Blair said he was not in favour of a local income tax to replace the council tax.

He also dismissed rumours the government was planning to make people pay capital gains tax on house sales.

Asylum

Mr Blair said the government had to do more to tackle asylum.

On proposals for a national identity card, Mr Blair said he was in favour in principle because of the difficulties of managing modern migration but the debate ultimately came down to cost.

The prime minister said the Geneva Convention was "completely out of date" in relation to asylum.

Northern Ireland

The prime minister said he understood the unionists' desire to know the details of IRA decommissioning.

Mr Blair said he hoped that a way could be found to get through the current political stalemate.

European defence

Europe should retain a proper defence capability for situations where the US did not want to be involved, said Mr Blair.

The prime minister said the UK did not want competition between the European Union and Nato when it came to defence.

The prime minister said it was wrong to say that British troops could be used in a European military or peacekeeping operation without UK consent.

Mr Blair said he was also the "strongest ally the United States could have".

Other domestic issues

On the two Tube derailments in London last week, Mr Blair it was hard to make the case it was to do with part-privatisation.

On the issue of racism in the police after this week's BBC 'Secret Policeman' programme, Mr Blair said the vast bulk of police officers were "thoroughly committed, decent people".

The prime minister said he did not believe the death of Diana, Princess of Wales should be the subject of an inquiry.

Iraq

On Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, the prime minister said either the programme of concealment was highly effective or Saddam Hussein had got rid of his weapons without telling anybody.

Mr Blair said that neither the UK nor US had any "strategic interest" in staying in Iraq a moment longer than necessary.

Mr Blair said he hoped Western countries would give generously to the rebuilding of Iraq, whatever they thought of the war.

Guantanamo Bay

Mr Blair said there were "real issues" relating to national security that involved prisoners held by the US at Guantanamo.

The prime minister said the situation with prisoners in Guantanamo Bay would be "brought to closure one way or another within the next few weeks".

World stability

On Iran, Mr Blair said it was important that the country complied with UN spot inspections on its nuclear facilities as it has said it would.

On North Korea, Mr Blair said it was a deeply repressive state and would be a very dangerous thing for the world if it got long-range nuclear weapons capability.