The main points from prime minister's questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday 21 February, from 1200 GMT:
The main points from prime minister's questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday 21 February, from 1200 GMT:
Prime Minister Tony Blair sent his condolences to the family of a soldier killed in Iraq.
Prime Minister Tony Blair sent his condolences to the family of a soldier killed in Iraq.
Asked about job losses in Ayrshire, Mr Blair said the government wanted to provide full employment in Scotland.
Asked about job losses in Ayrshire, Mr Blair said the government wanted to provide full employment in Scotland.
Referring to four pensioners who won an unprecedented High Court action over the collapse of their final salary pension schemes, Conservative leader David Cameron called for a cross-party initiative to help people who have lost their company pensions.
Referring to four pensioners who won an unprecedented High Court action over the collapse of their final salary pension schemes, Conservative leader David Cameron called for a cross-party initiative to help people who have lost their company pensions.
Mr Blair said there was now a compensations process in place for people who have lost their pensions - but he said any packages had to be "affordable".
Mr Blair said there was now a compensations process in place for people who have lost their pensions - but he said any packages had to be "affordable".
Mr Cameron said the government's compensation scheme was "completely inadequate".
Mr Cameron said the government's compensation scheme was "completely inadequate".
Mr Blair said there was £1.8bn in the pot which was a "generous commitment" but he said he could not guarantee to stand behind every company pension scheme as it would cost too much.
Mr Blair said there was £1.8bn in the pot which was a "generous commitment" but he said he could not guarantee to stand behind every company pension scheme as it would cost too much.
"We are still studying the exact terms of this judgment. As I understand it, although it found problems with some of the leaflets issued both by the previous government and this government, nonetheless it did not actually find there was a causal link between that and the losses that were suffered.
"We are still studying the exact terms of this judgment. As I understand it, although it found problems with some of the leaflets issued both by the previous government and this government, nonetheless it did not actually find there was a causal link between that and the losses that were suffered.
"But I entirely agree, it's a terrible situation for those people who have lost their pensions. But we must make sure that any package we put forward is affordable."
"But I entirely agree, it's a terrible situation for those people who have lost their pensions. But we must make sure that any package we put forward is affordable."
Mr Cameron said some measures could be taken which did not cost anything. "He can use his last few months in office to grandstand or he can do something for these people," said Mr Cameron.
Mr Cameron said some measures could be taken which did not cost anything. "He can use his last few months in office to grandstand or he can do something for these people," said Mr Cameron.
Mr Blair said the pensions mis-selling under the Tories was "legendary" but it would come down to money. And he quoted the shadow chancellor recently urging Tories to resist demands to increase pensions.
Mr Blair said the pensions mis-selling under the Tories was "legendary" but it would come down to money. And he quoted the shadow chancellor recently urging Tories to resist demands to increase pensions.
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell asked about the waiting list for social housing, which he said had gone up from 1 million to 1.6 million since 1997.
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell asked about the waiting list for social housing, which he said had gone up from 1 million to 1.6 million since 1997.
Mr Blair said investment in social housing was increasing but more homes still needed to be built.
Mr Blair said investment in social housing was increasing but more homes still needed to be built.
Mr Cameron used his second set of questions to tackle Mr Blair about the contest to be the next deputy prime minister.
Mr Cameron used his second set of questions to tackle Mr Blair about the contest to be the next deputy prime minister.
He said some of the candidates had called for curbs on city bonuses and greater trade union rights. He asked: "Why does he think that all the people who want to be deputy prime minister have to trash his record and lurch to the left?"
He said some of the candidates had called for curbs on city bonuses and greater trade union rights. He asked: "Why does he think that all the people who want to be deputy prime minister have to trash his record and lurch to the left?"
Mr Blair replied: "I think it's all part of a very interesting debate which no doubt will continue over the years to come."
Mr Blair replied: "I think it's all part of a very interesting debate which no doubt will continue over the years to come."
Mr Blair went on to suggest Mr Cameron was confused about whether his political hero was left wing columnist Polly Toynbee or Margaret Thatcher.
Mr Blair went on to suggest Mr Cameron was confused about whether his political hero was left wing columnist Polly Toynbee or Margaret Thatcher.
Mr Cameron asked about comments by Environment Secretary David Miliband, who said after six months of Gordon Brown as prime minister, people would want Mr Blair back, asking if he thought this was an "accurate forecast or a bad career move, or a bit of both?"
Mr Cameron asked about comments by Environment Secretary David Miliband, who said after six months of Gordon Brown as prime minister, people would want Mr Blair back, asking if he thought this was an "accurate forecast or a bad career move, or a bit of both?"
Mr Blair said it was not Labour that had changed its mind, but the Tories as they had opposed measures such as Bank of England independence and the minimum wage.
Mr Blair said it was not Labour that had changed its mind, but the Tories as they had opposed measures such as Bank of England independence and the minimum wage.
Tory MP Tim Boswell asked why the UK had signed but not ratified an EU convention on human trafficking.
Tory MP Tim Boswell asked why the UK had signed but not ratified an EU convention on human trafficking.
Tory MP Sir Patrick Cormack, facing deselection in Staffordshire South, asked Mr Blair, as a fellow resident of the "departure lounge", what he "hopes to be remembered for when he goes off on the lecture circuit?"
Mr
Blair said thanks to the minimum wage, tax credits and other measures, "this country was a fairer and stronger country than it was 10 years ago".
Tory MP Sir Patrick Cormack, facing deselection in Staffordshire South, asked Mr Blair, as a fellow resident of the "departure lounge", what he "hopes to be remembered for when he goes off on the lecture circuit?"
Gateshead
East MP Karen Hodgson called on Mr Blair to back a campaign to return the Lindisfarne Gospels to the North East. Mr Blair said it was up to the British Library committee.
Mr
Blair said thanks to the minimum wage, tax credits and other measures, "this country was a fairer and stronger country than it was 10 years ago".
Gateshead East Labour MP Karen Hodgson called on Mr Blair to back a campaign to return the Lindisfarne Gospels to the North East. Mr Blair said it was up to the British Library committee.
Replying to a question from Tory MP Edward Garnier, Mr Blair said the government had not gone back on any of the undertakings it had given on ID cards, including not allowing police to trawl through the national ID register. He described Tory opposition to the scheme as "regressive, old fashioned and out of date".
Replying to a question from Tory MP Edward Garnier, Mr Blair said the government had not gone back on any of the undertakings it had given on ID cards, including not allowing police to trawl through the national ID register. He described Tory opposition to the scheme as "regressive, old fashioned and out of date".
Labour MP Chris Mullin asked how the UK could credibly tell Iran it could not have nuclear weapons when it was renewing its Trident missile system.
Labour MP Chris Mullin asked how the UK could credibly tell Iran it could not have nuclear weapons when it was renewing its Trident missile system.
Mr Blair said Britain was allowed to have nuclear weapons under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Mr Blair said Britain was allowed to have nuclear weapons under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
