Key points: PM's media conference

By Kevin Young

KEY LINKS Have Your Say: The 42-day limit No deals on 42 days, Brown says Brown enters Apprentice CV debate Nick Robinson's newslog

1131: "Thank you all very much," says Mr Brown, who shuffles the papers on his lectern - which has "food, fuel and family finances" written on the front - and after just short of an hour, the conference ends.

1130: A journalist asked how many of the 1,000 new nuclear power stations which Mr Brown suggested might need to be built around the world would be constructed in Scotland. The prime minister does not give a figure, instead stressing the need to replace existing nuclear power stations in the UK, and the importance of the current consultation on the matter.

1128 BY TEXT: Re: The Apprentice winner Lee McQueen. Why don't the BBC follow Lee on his journey through Sir Alan Sugar's firm so we can see Lee doing his work? John

1126: Journalists were interested in learning more about the Jeddah summit on oil mentioned briefly earlier in the news conference. Mr Brown explained that measures must be discussed to reduce the demand for oil and there was a need to work out what was happening with the price of oil on a long-term basis.

1121: When he meets US President George W Bush later this month, Mr Brown will discuss whether a world trade deal can be secured and what the two countries can do together on oil and energy to help families (a phrase he is using a lot today).

1119: Almost anyone who pays tax in the UK will benefit from the changes introduced following the row over the abolition of the 10p band, and the government wanted to help families in such a difficult year economically.

1116: Mr Brown is asked about Labour's finances and loans reportedly coming due in the coming months. Is the party going into administration he is asked? "No," replies Mr Brown - and turns to the next journalist.

1115: Quentin Letts of the Daily Mail berates Mr Brown for his "disgusting" suggestion that journalists do not take terrorism seriously. The prime minister denies he said this. Mr Letts repeats his attack.

1114: Attention turns to the BBC and this week's study about its coverage of news stories from the nations and regions of the United Kingdom. It was important that a balance was struck between coverage of UK-wide issues and life in the nations, the prime minister said.

1110: On Iraq, Mr Brown said the Army would keep training Iraqi forces so they could oversee the security situation in Basra. There would be a statement on the future of Iraq in the Commons before the summer recess, he said.

1108: Still more on the 42-day vote, as Mr Brown stresses anyone suggesting the DUP's MPs voted in any way other than with their consciences actually "impunes" their reputation.

1106: A hundred doctors in Leeds fear the introduction of polyclinics will lead to the closure of local practices, Mr Brown is told. What does he think of this? Well, that suggestion is wrong, he replies, as the number of GPs and surgeries is rising. GPs should open for longer hours and at weekends and if this not possible, alternative sources need to be provided.

1104: Moving away from domestic issues for a moment, Mr Brown said he hoped to visit Israel in the next few weeks. Talks in the Middle East must continue; a viable Palestinian state was needed while making Israel secure, he said.

1103 BY E-MAIL: The prime minister is quite right to be backing nuclear power. The alternative is to become reliant on imported gas from unstable despotic regimes. It's a no-brainer.
Simon M, Edinburgh

Why do we need nuclear power? Will the cost of building stations and the cost of clean-up be better spent fitting homes with solar panels to produce their own hot water and electricity. I think this would reduce demand on power stations and would be better for the planet.
Brian, Sheffield

1100: As the range of subjects increases, Mr Brown also says civil service numbers are now at their lowest since 1945 as part of a reduction in jobs and value-for-money savings within Whitehall.

1058: The government was taking seriously the discovery of top-secret security documents on a train near London. An investigation will trace where else they had gone before they were handed to the BBC and a statement would be made in the Commons later, he said.

1057: There's a big referendum taking place in Ireland today on the EU treaty - the only one happening in Europe. A no vote would scupper an early adoption of the controversial treaty. Mr Brown refuses to be drawn on giving advice to Irish voters, saying only he hoped there was a big turnout (which, coincidentally, commentators believe would be a good sign for the yes campaign).

1056: Several more questions about the 42-day limit, which Mr Brown answered by saying he hoped peers would vote for the extension when the bill came before the House of Lords. He again said that people would not forgive him if an atrocity took place and he had not done everything possible to prevent it.

1052: With the threat of fuel shortages Mr Brown said he hoped the direct talks taking place to try to end a four-day strike by tanker drivers who deliver fuel for Shell would help to end the dispute.

1050: If the overall price of oil could fall or be stabilised, it would help to reduce the economic pressure on countries all around the world, he said in response to an economy focused questions.

1049: Mr Brown thinks people should tell the truth. In this case someone exaggerated what they had done - these things always come out said Mr Brown - but Sir Alan was able to make decisions and the country should support him in the decision he has made, the PM said.

1048: Attention turns to The Apprentice. In the reality TV show, Sir Alan Sugar picked Lee McQueen as his winner, even though he had lied on his CV. Would the prime minister ever hire someone who had told such a fib?

1046: Once again the 42-day vote is the subject of a reporter's question, and whether any incentive of any kind was offered in return for support. "I do not offer deals on terrorism," Mr Brown says.

1044: Mr Brown is thanked by a Sky News journalist for quoting from two interviews which the channel conducted with DUP MPs, which raises a smile from the prime minister.

1042: "You guys" in the media must look at the issue of terrorism seriously, the prime minister says. And he quotes a series of DUP MPs saying on why they voted for the 42 day limit.

1041: The first question after the opening statement goes to BBC political editor Nick Robinson, who asks if there was a deal done with the DUP to get their backing over the 42-day terror detention limit. Mr Brown says there was no deal with any opposition party - those who voted for the extension did so on principle.

1038: Mr Brown says the world may need another 1,000 nuclear power stations - and says those opposing nuclear power must realise that without these the world would face less security, faster climate change and more poverty.

1036: In his opening statement at the start of the media briefing in Downing Street he also says global economic problems need global solutions and says he had spoken to the Saudi government and would travel to Jeddah to work out what needs to be done with oil and energy. He says he wants to reduce by 700% the proportion of energy which comes from non-renewable sources, he says.

1033: In his opening speech, Mr Brown, who is wearing a dark suit, white shirt and blue tie says the issue of greatest concern to the public is the impact of fuel and food and family finances and what is happening in the economy. He says he'll be addressing "these issues today, tomorrow and in the coming weeks to make thing better for voters". I know the difficulties families are facing and I am determined to do more to help them so they can afford gas, petrol, food and mortgages.

1025: Prime Minister Gordon Brown is about to face journalists at 10 Downing Street for his regular monthly news conference. He is expected to be asked about his victory in the Commons on Wednesday over the 42-day detention limit for terror suspects. The discovery of top-secret security documents on a train near London and the state of the UK's economy are also highly likely to be on the agenda. You can follow the action on this page, on the BBC's site for mobile phones, and get the key points via our Twitter site.

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