The main points from prime minister's questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday 31 January, from 1200 GMT:
The main points from prime minister's questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday 31 January, from 1200 GMT:
Prime Minister Tony Blair, answering a question from Lib Dem Andrew Stunnell on a drop in police numbers in his constituency, said there were record numbers of police on the streets.
Prime Minister Tony Blair, answering a question from Lib Dem Andrew Stunnell on a drop in police numbers in his constituency, said there were record numbers of police on the streets.
In response to another question Mr Blair said he would continue to support investment in the steel industry, following the takeover of Corus by Indian group Tata.
In response to another question Mr Blair said he would continue to support investment in the steel industry, following the takeover of Corus by Indian group Tata.
Conservative leader David Cameron asked if the home secretary would keep his job for the two and half years it would take to reform the Home Office and asked how he could plan for the future when Mr Blair is due to go within months.
Conservative leader David Cameron asked if the home secretary would keep his job for the two and half years it would take to reform the Home Office and asked how he could plan for the future when Mr Blair is due to go within months.
Mr Blair said overall crime had fallen and there were an extra 8,000 prison places on the way, which he said was opposed by the Tories.
Mr Blair said overall crime had fallen and there were an extra 8,000 prison places on the way, which he said was opposed by the Tories.
Mr Cameron said Mr Blair's authority was waning with ministers attacking his foreign policy and protesting against hospital cuts. "When is he going to realise that it is all over?," asked Mr Cameron. "Can't he see it is time for him to go?" He said Mr Blair's authority was draining away and it was in the "national interest for him to go".
Mr Cameron said Mr Blair's authority was waning with ministers attacking his foreign policy and protesting against hospital cuts. "When is he going to realise that it is all over?," asked Mr Cameron. "Can't he see it is time for him to go?" He said Mr Blair's authority was draining away and it was in the "national interest for him to go".
Mr Blair said the vital thing was to continue with a strong economy, press ahead with education reform and carry on cutting crime.
Mr Blair said the vital thing was to continue with a strong economy, press ahead with education reform and carry on cutting crime.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell asked Mr Blair to comment on rape conviction rates, which he said were the lowest in Europe. He asked if it was time for a wholesale review of the law in this area, to ensure that Britain provides proper protection for woman, and for men, who are subject to this traumatic violent assault.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell asked Mr Blair to comment on rape conviction rates, which he said were the lowest in Europe. He asked if it was time for a wholesale review of the law in this area, to ensure that Britain provides proper protection for woman, and for men, who are subject to this traumatic violent assault.
Mr Blair said the government was already looking at how to improve conviction rates. "However I thinks it's just fair to point out that over 80% rape cases involve non-stranger rape...and over 50% of those cases are where there is either a partner involved or an ex-partner.
Mr Blair said the government was already looking at how to improve conviction rates. "However I thinks it's just fair to point out that over 80% rape cases involve non-stranger rape...and over 50% of those cases are where there is either a partner involved or an ex-partner."
"For those reasons I think it is obvious it will always be more difficult to secure a conviction but I would say, as the most recent report says, the way the police and crown prosecution are working in order to help victims of rape has been a significant improvement over the past few years," added Mr Blair.
"For those reasons I think it is obvious it will always be more difficult to secure a conviction but I would say, as the most recent report says, the way the police and crown prosecution are working in order to help victims of rape has been a significant improvement over the past few years," added Mr Blair.
Mr Blair was asked to explain why he was refusing to comment on the cash for honours affair and replied: "As you know, for perfectly obvious reasons, there's nothing I can say on this subject."
Mr Blair was asked to explain why he was refusing to comment on the cash for honours affair and replied: "As you know, for perfectly obvious reasons, there's nothing I can say on this subject."
Jamie Reed, Labour MP for Copeland, which includes the Sellafield nuclear plant, asked about the energy white paper.
Mr
Blair said he would indicate within the next few weeks, how to take forward the licensing regime for a new generation of nuclear power stations, which he said was being recognised around the world as a way of securing future supplies.
Jamie Reed, Labour MP for Copeland, which includes the Sellafield nuclear plant, asked about the energy white paper.
Mr Blair said he would indicate within the next few weeks, how to take forward the licensing regime for a new generation of nuclear power stations, which he said was being recognised around the world as a way of securing future supplies.
Chesterfield Lib Dem MP Paul Holmes asked about job losses at an engineering plant in his constituency.
Chesterfield Lib Dem MP Paul Holmes asked about job losses at an engineering plant in his constituency.
Mr Blair sent his condolences to Mr Holmes's constituents, but said he could confidently expect them to get new jobs, because of the strength of the economy.
Mr Blair sent his condolences to Mr Holmes's constituents, but said he could confidently expect them to get new jobs, because of the strength of the economy.
The SDLP's Eddie McGrady asked about collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and the RUC, asking for a full Commons debate on the issue.
The SDLP's Eddie McGrady asked about collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and the RUC, asking for a full Commons debate on the issue.
Mr Blair said he was looking carefully at a recent report but said the allegations dealt with a minority.
Mr Blair said he was looking carefully at a recent report but said the allegations dealt with a minority.
Conservative MP David Heathcoat Amory asked why Mr Blair was colluding with the German presidency on reviving the EU constitution. He asked if there would be a referendum on the constitution, as Mr Blair had promised.
Conservative MP David Heathcoat-Amory asked why Mr Blair was colluding with the German presidency on reviving the EU constitution. He asked if there would be a referendum on the constitution, as Mr Blair had promised.
Mr Blair said there was no question of a "behind closed doors" deal with the German presidency or anyone else on the constitution. He said the UK's position remained unchanged but he wanted to see what the Germans came up with.
Mr Blair said there was no question of a "behind closed doors" deal with the German presidency or anyone else on the constitution. He said the UK's position remained unchanged but he wanted to see what the Germans came up with.
It would be a "wonderful" of politicians like Mr Heathcoat-Amory would "liberate themselves from this absurd and antiquated view of Europe", he said.
It would be a "wonderful" if politicians like Mr Heathcoat-Amory would "liberate themselves from this absurd and antiquated view of Europe", he said.
Dai Havard, Labour MP for Merthyr Tydfil, called on Mr Blair to ignore "siren voices" from the Tory "toffocracy" and "policy wonks" in Number 10 to withdraw from the European Social Chapter.
Dai Havard, Labour MP for Merthyr Tydfil, called on Mr Blair to ignore "siren voices" from the Tory "toffocracy" and "policy wonks" in Number 10 to withdraw from the European Social Chapter.
Mr Blair said there was no question of withdrawing from the European Social Chapter.
Mr Blair said there was no question of withdrawing from the European Social Chapter.
SNP leader Alex Salmond asked of Mr Blair had more in common with Richard Nixon than George W Bush, and said: "Is there a cover-up in Downing Street?"
SNP leader Alex Salmond asked if Mr Blair had more in common with Richard Nixon than George W Bush, and said: "Is there a cover-up in Downing Street?"
Mr Blair said it was interesting Mr Salmond raised the issue of cover-ups, asking why the SNP leader did not get up and make his case for "independence and separation" for Scotland. "The reason he cannot raise the Scottish question with me, is because he doesn't dare".
Mr Blair said it was interesting Mr Salmond raised the issue of cover-ups, asking why the SNP leader did not get up and make his case for "independence and separation" for Scotland. "The reason he cannot raise the Scottish question with me, is because he doesn't dare".
Labour's Tony Wright asked if "it was true we are paying GPs a lot more money to do a lot less work and now we are paying them more money to take on the work they stopped doing".
Labour's Tony Wright asked if "it was true we are paying GPs a lot more money to do a lot less work and now we are paying them more money to take on the work they stopped doing".
Mr Blair said "in this instance I will stand up for the GPs" and he said they "are doing a lot more work as a result of the National Service Framework".
Mr Blair said "in this instance I will speak up for the GPs" and he said they "are doing a lot more work as a result of the National Service Framework".
Replying to a question from Conservative former defence spokesman Bernard Jenkin, Mr Blair said it was important to work with military partners in other EU countries as well as NATO, because there were operations the Americans did not want to do.
Replying to a question from Conservative former defence spokesman Bernard Jenkin, Mr Blair said it was important to work with military partners in other EU countries as well as NATO, because there were operations the Americans did not want to do.
