The main points from prime minister's questions on Wednesday, 27 February, from 1200 GMT:
The main points from prime minister's questions on Wednesday, 27 February, from 1200 GMT:
Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent his condolences to the family of Corporal Damian Mulvihill who has died in Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent his condolences to the family of Corporal Damian Mulvihill who has died in Afghanistan.
Kelvin Hopkins (Labour, Luton North) said a group of Labour backbenchers sang "The Red Flag" after voting for more rights for agency workers and the move to nationalise Northern Rock and asked if Labour should return to following such socialist policies.
Kelvin Hopkins (Labour, Luton North) said a group of Labour backbenchers sang "The Red Flag" after voting for more rights for agency workers and the move to nationalise Northern Rock and asked if Labour should return to following such socialist policies.
Mr Brown said the government had pursued the right course of action over Northern Rock.
Mr Brown said the government had pursued the right course of action over Northern Rock.
Conservative leader David Cameron used all six of his questions to focus on trust in politics.
Conservative leader David Cameron used all six of his questions to focus on trust in politics.
He asked Mr Brown if MPs "will not vote for their own pay again". Mr Brown said MPs had already voted for decisions on their pay to be taken out of the their hands. Mr Cameron welcomed this but said party leaders should give a lead on such issues.
He asked Mr Brown if MPs "will not vote for their own pay again". Mr Brown said MPs had already voted for decisions on their pay to be taken out of their hands. Mr Cameron welcomed this but said party leaders should give a lead on such issues.
The Speaker, Michael Martin, stepped in to warn Labour MPs about "barracking" Mr Cameron.
The Speaker, Michael Martin, stepped in to warn Labour MPs about "barracking" Mr Cameron.
Mr Cameron said the "repetitive shouting" of Labour MPs was one of the things undermining trust in politics.
Mr Cameron said the "repetitive shouting" of Labour MPs was one of the things undermining trust in politics.
The Tory leader then turned to calls for a referendum on the EU treaty, accusing Labour of breaking their election promise. He said Labour MPs should be given a free vote, if Mr Brown was so confident of his position - Mr Brown asked if the Conservatives would still push for a referendum after the treaty was ratified.
The Tory leader then turned to calls for a referendum on the EU treaty, accusing Labour of breaking their election promise. He said Labour MPs should be given a free vote, if Mr Brown was so confident of his position. Mr Brown asked if the Conservatives would still push for a referendum after the treaty was ratified.
Mr Cameron then called for a televised debate with Mr Brown of the type which had enlivened the primaries in America - a call instantly rejected by Mr Brown who said the US did not have prime ministers' questions.
Mr Cameron then called for a televised debate with Mr Brown of the type which had enlivened the primaries in America - a call instantly rejected by Mr Brown who said the US did not have prime ministers' questions. The PM also took a swipe at anti-Heathrow expansion protesters saying: "The message should go out today very clearly that decisions in this country should be made in the chamber of this House and not on the roof of this House."
Mr Cameron hit back by saying that "not many people watch these exchanges and many of those that do are not hugely impressed by them". He asked what Mr Brown was frightened of.
Mr Cameron hit back by saying that "not many people watch these exchanges and many of those that do are not hugely impressed by them". He asked what Mr Brown was frightened of.
Labour MP Gerald Kaufman raised the issue of a Tory party briefing document on government "gimmicks", which accused the government of failing to fulfil a promise to send sixth formers on free educational visits to Auschwitz. Mr Brown said the government would continue to fund such visits organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust.
Labour MP Gerald Kaufman raised the issue of a Tory party briefing document on government "gimmicks", which accused the government of failing to fulfil a promise to send sixth formers on free educational visits to Auschwitz. Mr Brown said the government would continue to fund such visits organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg focused on mental health services accusing the government of wasting money on drugs and not doing enough to give people access to therapists.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg focused on mental health services accusing the government of wasting money on drugs and not doing enough to give people access to therapists.
Referring to the Lib Dem frontbench walk out on Tuesday during an EU treaty ratification debate, Mr Brown welcomed Mr Clegg back to the Commons chamber.
Referring to the Lib Dem frontbench walk out on Tuesday after their request for an amendment proposing a referendum on Britain's EU membership was rejected, Mr Brown said: "Welcome back. I hope this time he can stay long enough to hear the answers."
"I hope this time he can stay long enough to hear the answers," added Mr Brown, before answering Mr Clegg's question.
Mr Clegg then provoked uproar by appearing to criticise the Commons authorities, saying to Mr Brown: "It is a shame that he seeks to defend clapped out 19th Century procedures in this house."
Mr Clegg then provoked uproar by appearing to criticise the Commons authorities, saying to Mr Brown: "It is a shame that he seeks to defend clapped out 19th Century procedures in this house."
Mr Martin stepped in to warn Mr Clegg to "be careful where he goes with this".
Mr Martin stepped in to silence MPs and warn Mr Clegg to "be careful where he goes with this".
"I was talking about procedures not people," replied Mr Clegg to cries of mock outrage from MPs and some chants of "out, out, out".
"I was talking about procedures not people," replied Mr Clegg to cries of mock outrage from MPs and some chants of "out, out, out".
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On
mental health, Mr Clegg accused the government of taking "half measures" when some people waited three and half years to see a therapist.
Joan Humble (Labour, Blackpool North and Fleetwood) expressed disappointment at the cancellation of plans for a super-casino. Mr Brown agreed to meet her and the other MPs from the North West of England to discuss regeneration plans.
Rob Wilson (Conservative, Reading East) said record numbers of people were leaving the UK, according to the latest statistics, and asked Mr Brown: "What is it about your government that makes people want to pack their bags and leave the country?". Mr Brown said the government was pushing ahead with a "managed migration" policy.
Answering a question from Labour MP David Chaytor, Mr Brown said he would be announcing a crack down on binge drinking in the next few days and accused the Conservatives of "playing politics" with this issue after they described an anti-teenage drinking initiative as a "gimmick" in a document released last Friday.
Answering a question from Conservative MP Hugo Swire, Mr Brown said he supported efforts to bring Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic to justice and said what had happened in Kosovo was the "right way forward".
