The main points from prime minister's questions on Wednesday, 12 March, from 1200 GMT:
The main points from prime minister's questions on Wednesday, 12 March, from 1200 GMT:
Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute to Ian Paisley, who has announced he is to step down as DUP leader and Northern Ireland's first minister.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute to Ian Paisley, who has announced he is to step down as DUP leader and Northern Ireland's first minister.
Mr Brown said it was good news that the Queen is set to visit Northern Ireland and that the province would be playing host to an investment conference in the next few weeks.
Mr Brown said it was good news the Queen is set to visit Northern Ireland and the province would be playing host to an investment conference in the next few weeks.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg accused Labour and the Conservatives of protecting their own "vested interests" in party funding rather than doing what was best for Britain.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg accused Labour and the Conservatives of protecting their own "vested interests" in party funding rather than doing what was best for Britain.
Conservative leader David Cameron asked why, on an issue of conscience, peers in the House of Lords were whipped on their voting on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.
Conservative leader David Cameron asked why, on an issue of conscience, peers in the House of Lords were whipped on their voting on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.
Mr Brown said his party would be subject to a free vote on the potential amendment about abortion. The bill has been through the Lords and a decision would be made about voting when it comes to the Commons, he said.
Mr Brown said his party would be subject to a free vote on the potential amendment about abortion. The bill has been through the Lords and a decision would be made about voting when it comes to the Commons, he said.
Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael asked about strike action in the Maritime Coastguard Agency and asked Mr Brown to intervene in this "very dangerous and damaging dispute".
Mr Brown said he was saddened by the strike and safety at sea would be a priority and nothing would be allowed to affect that. He said he understood managers were prepared to talk to the unions on the issue.
Mr Brown said there were more people using the buses in London than at any time in the last 40 years and said proposals from Tory mayoral candidate Boris Johnson could jeopardise that.
Mr Johnson stood up later to say Mr Brown was "misrepresenting" his policy. He asked if he would reallocate some of the mayor's publicity budget increment for next year to put more uniformed community support officers on the buses to give the security Londoners wanted.
Mr Brown said there were more police in London, as the result of a Labour mayor. He accused Mr Johnson of a "cuts manifesto".
Labour MP Chris Mole asked about plans for a new National Enterprise Academy. Mr Brown said they would choose a site "which needs that academy" and would increase apprenticeships to "equip Britain for the future".
Labour MP Colin Challen asked about joining a "carbon reductions arms race" so Britain wins the new jobs, technologies and exports as well as a clean environment. Mr Brown said Britain was meeting its Kyoto obligations and was to press the international community to look at an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 - above the current aim of 60%.
Slough Labour MP Fiona Mactaggart said young people in her constituency lacked the skills to take on some well paid jobs available and asks for a commitment from employers to provide more training. Mr Brown said we need to do more to persuade employers to train their workforces and said the government was doing more than ever to train people for a "new economy".
DUP MP Jeffery Donaldson asks Mr Brown not to devolve policing to the Northern Ireland Assembly - Mr Brown said the best thing was that discussions take place "on these issues and we see how we can resolve them".
Tory MP Graham Stuart asks if ministers will be held to account over the Pirbright laboratory's link to the foot-and-mouth outbreak last year, following a report. Mr Brown said he was looking at the report's recommendation and management was being changed at Pirbright, but he did not accept Mr Stuart's interpretation of the report.
Labour MP Chris McCafferty asks about young women missing from schools who are thought to be the victims of forced marriages. Mr Brown said it was "not something that is tolerable and we must do everything we can to support those who are victims of these forced marriages".
