Point-by-point: Question time

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The main points from prime minister's questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday 28 February:

<li>In response to a question from Lib Dem Dr Evan Harris about cuts at Oxford's Radcliffe Hospital, Prime Minister Tony Blair said waiting lists had come down.

<li>Although there would by 60 job cuts at that particular hospital, there had been an overall increase of 20,000 NHS jobs and improved performance in treatment standards, he added.

<li>Mr Blair paid tribute the family of two servicemen killed in Afghanistan and one in Iraq.

<li>Conservative leader David Cameron echoed those tributes. He asked if Mr Blair agreed with the health secretary that reducing NHS beds was a sign of success. He said Mr Blair had promised 7,000 more beds but had cut them by 9,000. He listed the number of maternity wards, community hospitals and A and E departments facing closure and said 13 ministers had been on picket lines protesting against the cuts.

<li>Mr Blair said any reduction in beds was down to an increase in the number of day care patients which, he argued, was an improvement and that the number of acute beds had increased. He said care had improved under Labour.

<li>In response to another question, Mr Blair said the Airbus factory at Filton, in Bristol, was in line to get an order to manufacture wing components.

<li>Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell echoed tributes to the servicemen killed in action and asked about talks between the US and UK on the siting of what he called a "largely untried" anti-ballistic defence system on UK soil.

<li>Mr Blair said it was "entirely sensible" to examine, with the US, the options for a ballistic missile defence system but he said discussions were at a "very preliminary stage".

<li>He promised to tell MPs about them, "as soon as there is something to say about it".

<li>Mr Blair acknowledged that the technology was "untried" but insisted: "I think it is entirely sensible for us to work out what the possible options may be and what the possible interests of this country may be."

<li>In answer to a question from Labour MP Tom Clarke, Mr Blair paid tribute to British Oscar winners and said the country's arts were going through a "golden age".

<li>Mr Cameron asked if Mr Blair had found time in his schedule to attend the launch of Charles Clarke and Alan Milburn's debate on the future of the Labour Party.

<li>He asked why "so many people who have worked with the chancellor think he make a terrible prime minister" yet no one is prepared to stop him. He said while Mr Blair thought Mr Brown was Einstein, half of Labour backbenchers thought he was Mrs Rochester. He asked Mr Blair when he was going to "let him out of the attic so we can get on with the main event."

<li>Mr Blair said he welcomed a policy debate and said "the strength of our policy rather contrasts with the weakness of his if I may say so."

<li>To loud cheers from Labour MPs, Mr Blair listed Labour's achievements in keeping inflation, interest rates and unemployment down.

<li>Michael Meacher, who wants to challenge Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership, stood up to loud barracking from Tory MPs.

<li>He called for an inquiry into private equity firms, looking at their impact on stakeholders and employees.

<li>Mr Blair said he understood concerns about private equity but it was important to recognise Britain was in a global market and the success of the City of London under Labour was one of the strengths of this country" allowing it combine economic strength with social justice".<li>"That will continue but probably not under him," said Mr Blair.

<li>Peter Bone, Conservative MP for Wellingborough, asked about rising unemployment in his constituency. Mr Blair said the economy was strong and he said an £18m hospital unit Mr Bone claimed at PMQ's last week had been shelved was now open.

<li>Mark Todd, Labour MP for Derbyshire South, called for measures to reduce crime at cash machines. Mr Blair said police forces were trying to spread "best practice" on tackling this type of crime.

<li>In response to another question from Tory MP David Evennett, Mr Blair said it was "obviously important" to keep the costs of staging the 2012 Olympics "properly under control" but added he believed the Games would do an enormous amount for London and the UK.

<li>Labour MP Graham Stringer called for action to curb nuisance from "mini moto" motorbikes. Mr Blair said he would look into it.