Prime Minister's Questions

Mr Blair lectured the opposition leader about his arguments

The prime minister teased the House with his congratulations for the new president - of Afghanistan.

Laughter filled the chamber as Mr Blair praised the announcement of Hamid Karzai as the first elected leader of the country.

He, like the rest of the world, awaited final results from the US.

Michael Howard drew attention back to the UK to offer evidence of corruption in producing the new Gambling Bill.

Questions

David Wright (Telford, Labour) asked the PM to push the new US president on the Middle East peace process.
The prime minister agreed that the settlement of the Middle East and Iraq were vital in reducing the global threat of terrorism and could be realised best by cooperation with the US President.

Michael Howard (Folkestone & Hythe, Conservative) asked if the DCMS had had representations from foreign casino operators companies to alter the money laundering regulations in relation to the Gambling Bill. He read out an e-mail from a senior DCMS official about casinos interests in money laundering regulations. Mr Howard persisted with the suggestion there had been irregular transactions between the DCMS and foreign casino operators.
The prime minister did not know of any such representations. He went on to accuse the opposition of opportunism and found the attempt to accuse his government of corruption "shoddy". Mr Blair reiterated that 90% of the new bill concerned tightening up regulations, and that the Conservatives had previously supported it.

Seamus Mallon (Newry, SDLP) spoke of the case of his constituent kidnapped in Afghanistan and that the PM should send out a humanitarian message to deter these actions.
The PM offered his sympathies but said he did not accept the recently released figures on civilian casualties in Iraq.

Charles Kennedy (Ross Skye & Inverness West, Liberal Democrat) underlined the importance of north-east voters voting for devolution. He went on to wonder when the PM would be going out to make a positive case for the European constitution.
The prime minister agreed and said he supported the devolution of power. Mr Blair said he frequently spoke in favour of the EU constitution.

Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth, Labour) asked for guarantees about the future of the Jaguar plant in his constituency and the importance of the car industry in the West Midlands' economy.
The prime minister understood these concerns and assured him that the company and trade unions were working hard to ensure the best solution for Jaguar as a whole.

Howard Flight (Arundel & South Downs, Conservative) asked that there be no further increases in the limit on employees' national insurance contributions.
The prime minister said there were no plans to do so.

Wayne David (Caerphilly, Labour) asked for further offences to be added to the fixed penalty notice scheme in addressing anti-social behaviour.
The prime minister agreed and pointed out that the Liberal Democrats had recently offered their support for ASBOs.

Michael Howard (Folkestone & Hythe, Conservative) asked why it was no longer deemed suitable for shoplifters to get a criminal record. He suggested the government had produced a "charter for shoplifters".
The prime minister pointed out that shoplifters may still get a criminal record but there was now an alternative mechanism - fixed penalty notices - for dealing with certain offences.

Michael Jabez-Foster (Hastings & Rye, Labour) suggested something should be done to restore the free postal service to troops in Iraq.
The prime minister revealed they had agreed to provide this service in the run-up to Christmas and review the delivery of mail to troops after that.

Charles Hendry (Wealden, Conservative) questioned the reduction in breast cancer treatment in his constituency.
The prime minister recognised the imperative of treating the disease and said that UK breast cancer care was amongst the best in Europe.

John Battle (Leeds West, Labour) wanted to ensure that funds earmarked for Afghanistan reached its destination, to tackle poverty and create sustainable economic development there.
The prime minister completely agreed and spoke of the importance of providing the Afghan people with alternative incomes to the poppy trade.

Simon Burns (Chelmsford West, Conservative) raised the matter of gypsies and travellers buying land and settling it contravention of planning laws.
The prime minister acknowledged the relevance of the issue and believed his government was working with local authorities to make sure their powers were adequate to address the problem.

Alice Mahon (Halifax, Labour) asked that the British troops would not be involved in indiscriminate killing in Fallujah after US bombing raids there.
The prime minister emphasised that the military presence and the interim government in Iraq was under UN auspices. He resented the suggestion that allied troops were making life worse for Iraqi civilians. He said it was important to tackle insurgents, particularly in Fallujah, who were making the country volatile

Alan Reid (Argyll & Bute, Liberal Democrat) asked the PM if the post office could be persuaded to keep pension books for certain people.
The prime minister said the department of work and pensions was in consultation with the Royal National Institute for the Blind about ensuring the partially sighted could still receive their pensions.

Iain Luke (Dundee East, Labour) called for the expansion of the community warden scheme.
The prime minister said he wanted to see community patrols in all communities.

Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent, Conservative) wondered why the PM had not complained to the UN secretary general about any abuse in the oil-for-food programme.
The prime minister accepted this was a concern and any such abuses should be dealt with.

Richard Burden (Birmingham Northfield, Labour) praised the PM's commitment to the Middle East peace process but asked him to ensure that the plans would work on the ground.
The prime minister welcomed the plans to disengage from Gaza but recognised it was a first step and he looked to further progress to achieve a two-state solution.

Richard Ottoway (Croydon South, Conservative) referred to a correspondence from the foreign secretary about the problem of war with Iraq on the basis of regime change.
The prime minister reiterated that the legal grounds for the Iraq war was the breach of UN resolutions.

Anne Begg (Aberdeen South, Labour) questioned a newly announced SNP policy to raise pensions.
The prime minister had not heard of such a policy, but joked that it was reason not to vote for them.

You can watch the PMQs on BBC Parliament on Wednesday 3 November at 2330 GMT and throughout the night.