The Full Story: PM's questions

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Prime minister's questions

By Victoria King

1350 Well that's it, the prime minister's grilling on Afghanistan is over. As is the first PMQs of the new Parliamentary year. Thank you for joining us and for your contributions by email. Join us again next Wednesday.

1346 The 2,000 troops question again. Mr Brown is asked for a "straight-forward answer" on whether he was asked to deploy 2,000 more troops. He says there were several options on the table, but "none of them" involved discussion of the 2,000 figure.

1343 The issue of women is now raised. Malcolm Bruce, Lib Dem, says President Karzai is actively excluding women from full participation in society. Mr Brown says he has recently spoken to the Afghan president to insist that laws must not be passed that discriminate against women in any way.

Disgraceful that with the country at war and such a discussion being held that our political masters in the main have decided it's not worth listening to. Where are they all?
Peter, Leeds

To John of Middlewich. Just a point of information John, teachers' pensions are reduced by 5% for each year a teacher retires under 60 years of age. The scheme itself it not a particularly generous scheme being based on 80ths. I suggest you compare this to the Police scheme.
Englishman

(Ed's note:

I have no sympathy for those whinging MPs who are now complaining about the retrospective nature of the expenses cash limits. They now know how it feels for us overtaxed motorists having to pay the hike in VED applied to cars regardless of date of purchase.
Mike, Cambridge

1341 Public support is "hanging by a thread", Stewart Hosie, of the SNP says. He asks the PM to explain what success in Afghanistan will actually look like. Mr Brown replies by saying that in the short-term it will mean fewer British deaths and more fully-trained Afghan troops. In the long-term, he says it will depend on those local troops being able to cope on their own so that UK personnel can leave.

1336 Julian Lewis, Conservative, asks whether troops were killed unnecessarily by IED's because of a "disgraceful" lack of helicopters. Mr Brown says he simply does not accept that is the case. Labour MP Paul Flynn says angrily that we need "new thinking" not more troops - and every surge by British forces is matched by a surge in British deaths.

1334 Conservative Sir Peter Tapsell says anyone who believes that the Afghan army, with all of its ethnic diversity, can unite to defeat the Taliban is living in "political cloud cuckoo land".

"They spoke about the TA already and the PM advises that TA cut-backs will not affect Afghanistan training. The Minister of Defence will give more details later. Jan, Manchester" The PM is pulling the wool over everyone's eyes if he says these cuts won't impact on Afghan training. The impact of skills fade and lack of current training will make the process of OPTAG, or bringing the TA troops up to speed, prior to a deployment much harder.
Chris, Harrogate

To Elizabeth from Hampshire: Teachers may not get subsidised lunches but they do get gold plated final salary pensions paid for by a private sector who's final salary schemes have been decimated.
John, Middlewich

1331 Lib Dem backbencher Bob Russell asks about the Afghan economy. He calls on Mr Brown to do much more to encourage the export of Afghan goods and promote the production of food locally in Helmand to supply British troops and provide local jobs.

1330 In another reply, Mr Brown denies that discussions on troop reinforcements had included demands from the military for an extra 2,000 troops. Opposition parties have suggested that in fact 2,000 was the number the commanders really wanted - not the 500 they are actually going to get.

1329 Hugh Bailey, Labour, asks about the growth of opium in Afghanistan and what efforts are being made to reduce it. Mr Brown says thousands of farmers have been moved to wheat cultivation in recent months. But "we realise it's a continuing challenge" he adds, and says many of those who grow opium are the same people who place the improvised explosive devices that have claimed so many British lives.

1325 Thanks for your emails about Tory MP Peter Bottomley's question from PMQs earlier. He said no court should have granted the order against the Guardian which stopped the newspaper reporting a Parliamentary question. He asks the PM for copies of "secret injunctions" to be placed in the House of Commons and reviewed the next day at the Court of Appeal. Mr Brown said Justice Secretary Jack Straw was "looking into the issue" and hopes progress can be made to "clear up what is an unfortunate area of the law".

1320 Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell questions why this latest strategy in Afghanistan is going to be any more successful than ones before it. Mr Brown insists the reason is that it's "the right strategy" - and is also in line with what the Americans want to do.

1316Geoffrey Robinson, Labour, says President Hamid Karzai is an "obstacle" to political progress in Afghanistan. Mr Brown, however, avoids criticising Mr Karzai in his reply to that question.

1314 Chair of the defence select committee James Arbuthnot suggests more use of mentoring to root out corruption in the Afghan police force, as well as the army. Mr Brown agrees and says the need to do that is "an order the Afghan government has got to accept".

1313From BBC political correspondent Iain Watson: The prime minister is bashing the despatch box with one hand, perhaps displaying frustration, when responding to Nick Clegg's questions about tackling the political problems in Afghanistan and says the government would back a re run of the Afghan elections if that was necessary. Soon afterwards, Labour backbencher Jeremy Corbyn says British troops should come home. Apart from all the earlier tributes to service personnel, there is not much sign of political consensus here.

1311 Mr Brown insists there is a strategy, a clear strategy, based on improving Afghan capacity to self-govern. But he says it is not up to Britain to prescribe a particular political solution for another country. Instead, the Afghan government must make its own efforts to root out corruption with oversight from Western partners.

Does Nicoli from Wimbourne think that the soldiers that lost their lives in Afghanistan do not deserve the honour of having their names read out at PMQs? Surely the PM is doing the right thing here. Along with the Speaker ensuring PMQs lasts the correct time.
Paul, Bromley

1309 Mr Clegg says the Afghan government has "spectacularly failed" to win the trust of ordinary citizens. Regardless of electoral outcomes, the Lib Dem leader wants to see a government of national unity, bringing in opposition politicians in an attempt to win broader popular support.

1308 From BBC political correspondent Iain Watson: Further to my earlier post about not it is a 500 troop increase, the Prime Minister has been clarifying matters - he says he had decided to raise the number of troops from 8,100 to 9,000 and is now increasing that number to 9,500 - in other words he regards this as in an increase in troop numbers of 500.

1307 For the Lib Dems, Nick Clegg now adds his thoughts. Does the PM agree that there must be a new "credible" and "over-arching" strategy for troops in Afghanistan? Does the PM also agree that "there is more to this than boots and equipment on the ground"? What is the government doing to support a political surge?

They spoke about the TA already and the PM advises that TA cut-backs will not affect Afghanistan training. The Minister of Defence will give more details later.
Jan, Manchester

1304 Raising troop numbers to 9,500 will involve redeploying one regiment already in theatre to the most difficult area of Helmand, Mr Brown explains. He also says the decision to boost numbers was taken with the support of military commanders.

1302 Mr Brown says the plan is to get six new helicopters to Afghanistan "as soon as possible". Work is going on to get them ready and train the necessary pilots. He also assures Mr Cameron that the new armoured vehicles "are second to none" and 500 more have gone to theatre in recent months.

The elephant in the room (MPs expenses) was not even acknowledged during PMQs.Not quite what the public expects.
Richard, Lewes

1300 Mr Brown says the Afghan army was found wanting recently. After Nato's Operation Pather's Claw, which was designed to clear large swathes of the country of Taliban fighthers, the Afghan army were not properly trained to hold that ground.

1259 Mr Brown gets up to give his reply to that very long list of questions from his opposite number. We're getting lots of emails about the Territorial Army training cuts. Will add more details as we get them.

1258 On the troops boost, Mr Cameron wants to know if 500 extra people is the number that military commanders have asked for - might they not want far more? And he questions whether these really are extra people - or just existing units being asked to stay on longer in theatre.

1255 From BBC political correspondent Iain Watson: The prime minister's announcement that there would be an increase in troop levels to 9,500 was met in silence. it had been expected that he would commit an extra 500 troops but there are currently nearly 9,200 in the country - partly as a result of extra troops still in the country who were sent to improve security in the run up to the afghan elections. But he repeated conditions first set out at Labour's recent conference -that the troops must be properly equipped before they are deployed. He also reassured those -especially on his own benches - who might be worried by increasing the British commitment by saying the military advice was that British troops would be made safer by increasing the rate at which Afghan troops were trained. The conclusion of his statement was met with muted noises of approval from the backbenches

Why is nobody talking about the 6 month BAN on training for the TA. The country is at war - there is a huge news story here - why is it being ignored!
TA Young Officer, Manchester

1253 On equipment, Mr Cameron questions why "after eight years, we are still playing catch-up on equipment". He wants assurances about the number of helicopters that will be sent to Afghanistan. He also suggests not all of the new Mastiff armoured vehicles are fit for deployment.

1252 David Cameron asks about the need for a new and specific "counter-insurgency strategy" in Afghanistan. He also suggests the Afghan army is not representative enough of the wide ethnic diversity in the country.

1251 Mr Brown says he wants to reinforce the work done by our troops "in this hardest of summers" by giving Afghans the tools to take over themselves.

1248 "A better future for Afghanistan can only be forged if there is stronger governance", the PM continues. He says Britain is supporting local and national politicians and has advisers on the ground to help root out corruption.

1243 Mr Brown says he has "agreed in principal a new force level" - translation? There will be more troops on the ground as predicted - 9,500 he says. A rise of 500 people. But he says there are conditions - improvement in Afghan army commitments, the necessary equipment for those extra troops and proper involvement from other nations.

1243 From BBC political correspondent Iain Watson: It took nearly half an hour for spending cuts to raise their head at prime minister's questions - a soft question from a labour backbencher allowed the prime minister to attack Conservative plans tot restrict tax credits; however he avoided a subsequent question from the opposition benches as to whether he would 'soldier on to the end.'

1243 Britain will be training ordinary soldiers, but also senior officers right up the command chain, the PM adds.

1242 Onto Afghanistan itself and the key issue of training Afghan troops. He says Britain supports the US desire to make this a priority. The Afghan army is committed to recruiting an extra 5,000 troops a month, he says, and to help with that Britain is setting up a new training centre to prepare 900 recruits for active service each month.

1242 Mr Brown starts with Pakistan. He says there is a clear plan for the reconstruction and stabilisation of turbulent areas of the country. He says the British government will provide an extra £10m for development in these areas.

1238 So there was no mention of expenses in PM's questions, perhaps that's not surprising, given it's hardly a subject where any party can win many political points. Mr Brown is now well into a statement on Afghanistan. Some MPs leave but most are staying.

The PM had attempted to shorten PMQs by a moving, yet unnecessary, reading of casualties names. What did John Bercow do? Just made PMQs continue by 4 minutes. Well Done!
Nicoli, Wimborne, UK

1235 The final question is from Michael Spicer - "will you soldier on to the bitter end?" he asks the PM. The reply: "We have a programme for government."

1234 Anne Moffat, Labour, asks about exploitation of workers in the construction industry - do we needed stricter regulation. Mr Brown says the government has set up a confidential helpling for anyone struggling. It is in nobody's interest that vulnerable workers are not helped.

1232 From BBC political correspondent Iain Watson: To very audible heckling, Nick Clegg was keen to pursue his party's distinctive line on Afghanistan - while supporting the mission overall he has increasingly questioned how it is being conducted. Today he called for a government of national unity in Afghanistan.

1232 Onto child poverty - Julie Morgan, Labour, wants to know what else is going to be done to tackle it. Mr Brown hits out at the Tories in his reply, saying that cutting family credits, as they plan to do, would make the situation worse for poor children.

1231 Mark Williams, Lib Dem, is cut off part-way through a long question about "belligerent" banks making it very difficult for ordinary people to get mortgages. He says there is "bewilderment" among his constituents. The follow-up question to this is also about bank lending - this time to small business. Speaker John Bercow cuts off this questioner as well, telling him the prime minister has already got the gist. The PM's response is that the government is doing all it can, but, pointedly, he says cross-party support on the measure being implemented would be nice.

1230 Katy Clark, Labour, asks about guarantees that any new coal-fired power stations built in the UK will have carbon capture facilities. An easy one this for Mr Brown - yes he says, that's certainly the government's plan.

I hope when Daniel and Emily say "Go Gordon!" they mean leave.
Paul, North East

What our wounded service personnel want if they are injured is to get help to stay in the military - not to find other employment. Why will the PM not answer the direct question?
Chris, Bristol, UK

1227 David Anderson, a Labour MP, demands that the government help get the various parties in the postal strike around the negotiating table, rather than "attacking" the unions. Mr Brown says the planned strike is "unnecessary" and the dispute must be resolved.

1226 A question about pensioners struggling to live off savings when interest rates are low. Mr Brown says he has brought in "special measures" to help and there are other benefits like pension credits available.

1224 From BBC political correspondent Iain Watson: In the first clash across the floor of the House between the prime minster and the leader of the Opposition since the summer the issue for MPs' expenses was entirely avoided, as was the issue which dominated the party conference season - public spending. Both party leaders had an opportunity to appear statesman-like as they discussed what was being done to fulfil the military covenant to look after the troops. But the solemnity was shattered when David Cameron got increasingly agitated over what he saw as the lack of training for members of the Territorial Army before being sent into battle. Backbenchers were only roused to vocal support of their respective leaders when this contentious issue was raised.

1223 Labour MP Gordon Prentice asks a question about the loss of Accident and Emergency facilities in Burnley. "Shame, shame", other MPs cry out. Mr Brown says he will set up a meeting with the health secretary.

1222 Mr Clegg goes back to the issue of Afghanistan. He says there is a "total lack of legitimacy" in Afghan politics. The PM wants people to reserve judgment until all the results are in. He says he has spoken to the two presidential candidates and asked them to sign a contract committing to ending corruption in the country.

What MPs fail to realise is that just because something is legal, it doesn't make it right. Slavery is wrong, but it used to be a legal practice didn't it? And I am a teacher, I don't get subsidised lunches and travel, nor can I claim for cleaners and gardeners. I am also facing a pay freeze
Elizabeth, Hampshire

Gordon's pretty clear on message today. Back to good old punch and Judy. Go Gordon!
Daniel and Emily, Stockton-on-Tees

GB has done nothing to date to help our soldiers in Afghanistan, why should we believe him now?
Maxine,Harpenden, UK

1218 Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg gets up to speak and gets a very unfriendly reception. Could that be because of his stance on expenses? Mr Clegg says he wants the audit of claims be expanded.

1217 An about-turn in subject here - onto the Girl Guides who are celebrating their 100th anniversary. Congratulations to them echo round the House.

1216 Mr Cameron brings up the Territorial Army - he says he has met a volunteer from the TA due to go to Afghanistan in 2010 who fears he will not get enough training. Mr Brown says he will find out more about the case. But the Tory leader presses on - he says it is "unacceptable" to send troops into battle without proper preparation and must stop. The PM says he is doing "everything in his power" to make sure that never happens.

1213 Mr Cameron asks about recovery centres championed by charities to help military personnel deal with long-term injuries. He wants to know what efforts the government is making to create more such centres. In reply, Mr Brown says he is making efforts to help soldiers get into alternative forms of employment once their time in service over.

1209 Mr Brown says he stands by the military covenant, but is happy to look at any other suggestions for improving soldiers' lives.

1208 David Cameron adds tribute to the 37 military personnel killed in Afghanistan. The Conservative leader asks if it is time for a fundamental examination of the military covenant and the care given to soldiers and their families.

1207 From BBC political correspondent Iain Watson: The prime minister said it was a solemn moment - it took several minutes to read out the name and rank of each of the 37 members of the armed forces who had lost their lives in Afghanistan. But for the distant rustling of papers, the statement was met in silence. Then it was back to business as usual with a question about the Lisbon Treaty - an issue which divides government and opposition and sometimes causes divisions within the parties too.

1205 The first question is from Tory MP Ann Winterton - about the Lisbon treaty. Is the PM obliged to put the objectives of the EU ahead of those of the UK? Mr Brown, unsurprisingly, says he is not.

1203 Gordon Brown says his tribute is on behalf of the whole country. He is reading the names and ranks of those who have died during the Parliamentary recess. There is silence in the chamber.

1201 And PMQs starts. Gordon Brown is paying tribute to the soldiers who have died in Afghanistan since July.

1159 Not long to go now - the House of Commons is packed as Scotland questions comes towards its end.

1154 Theresa May says the Conservatives' appointment of Gen Sir Richard Dannatt will help them understand what needs to be done in Afghanistan better. But she agrees with Mr Hutton that politicians must make the British people believe why the mission matters so much to their security.

1154 John Hutton says he welcomes the boost to personnel - although it should have been done six months ago - and warns that "economy of force" could "screw things up really badly". But he also says we must not forget the campaign in Afghanistan is not purely military. Hearts and minds are key - both in Afghanistan and in the UK.

1152 From BBC political correspondent Iain Watson: With the first few days of the parliamentary session dominated by the continuing row over MPs' expenses, the prime minister now wants to focus attention on a much greater cost to the nation. Just before the first Prime Minister's Questions of the new session at noon, Gordon Brown is expected to pay tribute to each of those military personnel who have lost their lives in the Afghan conflict since Parliament last met before the summer break. This will bring a temporary cessation to political hostilities in the House of Commons, but the consensual mood is unlikely to persist. Immediately after question time, at half past twelve, the announcement that more troops will be sent to Afghanistan is expected.

1149 The issue of Afghanistan is also on the agenda today, with Gordon Brown due to make a statement to the Commons after PM's questions. He is expected to announce an increase in troop numbers. The BBC understands that Mr Brown will begin PMQs by reading out the names of all 37 service personnel killed in Afghanistan durnig the summer recess.

1148 Theresa May uses more moderate language - although she does agree with Mr Hutton. She refers to David Cameron's "smell test" about expenses - never mind whether it falls within the rules, does it smell right to the public? Where the odour was wrong, MPs must pay up, she says.

1145 Onto the expenses scandal and John Hutton is talking tough. He says MPs should "pay up and shut up". He accuses them of "whining on" about what they see as "rough justice". He thinks it is "utterly preposterous" to talk of uniting and refusing to abide by Sir Thomas Legg's demands.

1144 New figures out today show the growth in UK unemployment has slowed, but John Hutton thinks it too early to see this as signs of a definitive recovery. He says the number of out of work has to flatten out before any confident talk of green shoots.

1140 Hello and welcome to our live coverage of prime minister's questions. We'll be starting off with analysis and commentary from the Daily Politics. Former defence secretary John Hutton and shadow work and pensions and shadow women's minister Theresa May are in the studio giving their views on the day's news.