The main points from prime minister's questions on Wednesday, 19 March, from 1200 GMT:
The main points from prime minister's questions on Wednesday, 19 March, from 1200 GMT:
Prime Minister Gordon Brown responds to Bridgend MP Madeleine Moon's question about apprenticeships by saying he had been pleased to meet young people from her constituency and said employment figures showed Britain had more people in jobs than at any time in its history
Prime Minister Gordon Brown responds to Bridgend MP Madeleine Moon's question about apprenticeships by saying he had been pleased to meet young people from her constituency and said employment figures showed Britain had more people in jobs than at any time in its history
Tory leader David Cameron asked about the relationship with China amid reports of violence against protesters in Tibet and said we must be clear it is "completely unacceptable".
Tory leader David Cameron asked about the relationship with China amid reports of violence against protesters in Tibet and said we must be clear it is "completely unacceptable".
Mr Brown said he had spoken to the Chinese premier on Wednesday morning and had made clear his view that the violence must end and called for restraint. He said he would be meeting the Dalai Lama when he visits London but the most important thing was to bring about reconciliation and see talks and dialogue.
Mr Brown said he had spoken to Chinese premier Wen on Wednesday morning and had made clear his view that the violence must end and called for restraint. He said he would be meeting the Dalai Lama when he visits London but the most important thing was to bring about reconciliation and see talks and dialogue.
Mr Cameron congratulated Mr Brown for taking "exactly the right decision" on meeting the Dalai Lama and for not delaying it. Mr Brown responds that "We make the right decisions at all times".
Mr Cameron congratulated Mr Brown for taking "exactly the right decision" on meeting the Dalai Lama and for not delaying it. Mr Brown responded that "We make the right decisions at all times".
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg asked about British citizenship for Ghurkhas. The prime minister said that this was the first government to extend equal pay and pension rights to Ghurkhas serving since 1997, but insisted prior to that they had been based in Hong Kong rather than mainland Britain.
Mr Clegg said Mr Brown was guilty of a "spectacular misjudgement" describing him as "the man who signed the cheques for the Iraq war" but had not had the "moral courage" to take responsibility for it. He asked Mr Brown whether he has "any regrets" for his support for the war.
Mr Brown said the war had brought about democracy in Iraq, better healthcare for hundreds of thousands of children and the economy was being rebuilt - he said he as sure Mr Clegg would not want to return to a situation where Saddam Hussein was in control.
Mr Cameron asked Mr Brown to answer some of the questions he has "failed to answer" over the last few weeks - such as whether MPs should have a free vote on the human embryology bill.
Mr Brown said the bill was vital to dealing with life-saving diseases and he would come back to the House with proposals to take it through at a later date. Mr Cameron asked why it was so difficult to answer the question.
Mr Cameron asked "again" whether Mr Brown would vote in favour of ID cards - "yes or no?". Mr Brown said he was in favour of ID cards and asked Mr Cameron whether he is in favour of compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals. Mr Cameron said if the PM wanted to ask him questions, he should call a general election now.
Mr Cameron asked a question about A-levels and said it was good to see Schools Secretary Ed Balls being quieter this week - a reference to a heckle from Mr Balls which prompted a row and disputed claims that the Hansard record had been doctored. Mr Cameron said Mr Balls had had the choice of heckling more clearly, or keeping quiet, and said he was pleased the latter option had been chosen.He then asked whether the PM wanted A-levels to remain "the gold standard".
Mr Brown said that, as he had previously said, there would be a review in 2013 and nobody would take away A-levels if they were working.
Mr Cameron said the PM could not make a decision about free votes or A-levels and quoted Mr Brown's new "spin doctor" as saying living in Downing Street was "like living in a surreal cartoon". He prompted laughter by pointing out a new No 10 strategist's favourite book was apparently called "The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organisations". He said if the PM couldn't run his office, "is it any wonder he can't run the country?"
Mr Brown rebuffed those claims and said it was interesting Mr Cameron had no questions on the global economy, NHS or local services. He said this was because the Conservatives have "no answers to the problems of this country".
