The main points from prime minister's questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday 18 April:
The main points from prime minister's questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday 18 April:
Prime Minister Tony Blair started by sending condolences to the family and friends of the service personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan over the Easter period. He said all had shown "heroism, dedication and professional commitment to this country".
Prime Minister Tony Blair started by sending condolences to the family and friends of the service personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan over the Easter period. He said all had shown "heroism, dedication and professional commitment to this country".
Tory MP Angela Watkinson asked Mr Blair about his 10-year drug strategy, asking that the "disastrous decision" to downgrade cannabis be reversed.
Tory MP Angela Watkinson asked Mr Blair about his 10-year drug strategy, asking that the "disastrous decision" to downgrade cannabis be reversed.
Mr Blair said progress had been made on drugs policy but there was much more to do. He said drug misuse was down and said they had doubled the amount of money for drug treatment.
Mr Blair said progress had been made on drugs policy but there was much more to do. He said drug misuse was down and said they had doubled the amount of money for drug treatment.
"Drug misuse is down some 16% since 1998 and drug use among young adults is down 21% and Class A drug use remains for the first time in a long time, as the [UK Drug] policy commission points out, relatively stable," Mr Blair said.
Labour MP Joan Humble asked about the decision not to site a super-casino in Blackpool and asked that it be located in an area where the regeneration impact would be maximised.
Labour MP Joan Humble asked about the decision not to site a super-casino in Blackpool and asked that it be located in an area where the regeneration impact would be maximised.
Mr Blair said he understood concerns and said the government would consult carefully and come back with proposals after 3 May. But he said in a world where there was online betting, that casinos could bring much-need private investment into areas like Manchester and Blackpool.
Mr Blair said he understood concerns and said the government would consult carefully and come back with proposals after 3 May. He said in a world where there was online betting, that casinos could bring much-need private investment into areas like Manchester and Blackpool.
David Cameron also paid tribute to the service personnel killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
David Cameron also paid tribute to the service personnel killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He asked about the 125,000 people whose occupational pension schemes had collapsed. He said he was asking in a "genuinely cross party way" for the prime minister to look at amendments to the Pension Bill that would give victims more compensation.
He asked about the 125,000 people whose occupational pension schemes had collapsed. He said he was asking in a "genuinely cross-party way" for the prime minister to look at amendments to the Pension Bill that would give victims more compensation.
Mr Blair said there was no help scheme in place under the previous Conservative government and Labour had listened to concerns.
Mr Blair said there was no help scheme in place under the previous Conservative government and Labour had listened to concerns.
He said the chancellor had upped the scheme to £8bn, but said he did not know if they could afford to make a further commitment, but it would be looked into in a review. He said it was not responsible to make the commitment at this stage.
He said the chancellor had upped the scheme to £8bn, but said he did not know if they could afford to make a further commitment, but it would be looked into in a review. He said it was not responsible to make the commitment at this stage.
Mr Cameron said the Budget changes did not help people who had already reached retirement age - some were dying and would not get their money. He said: "Only about 1,000 people have been helped. The financial assistance scheme isn't working." He said the government had to act now.
Mr Cameron said the Budget changes did not help people who had already reached retirement age - some were dying and would not get their money. He said: "Only about 1,000 people have been helped. The financial assistance scheme isn't working." He said the government had to act now.
Mr Blair said new proposals, the pension protection fund had been introduced to help people but they could not guarantee any additional payment until the review was published. He said it was important not to be left with a financial commitment that the government could not be sure it could meet.
Mr Blair said new proposals and the pension protection fund had been introduced to help people but they could not guarantee any additional payment until the review was published. He said it was important not to be left with a financial commitment that the government could not be sure it could meet.
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell also expressed condolences about the deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell also expressed condolences about the deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He asked why nurses in England and Wales are not getting their full pay increases upfront, as they were threatening to strike.
He asked why nurses in England and Wales were not getting their full pay increases upfront, as they were threatening to strike.
Mr Blair said it was not popular to introduce the pay awards in stages but it was necessary and it would amount to an average 4% increase for nurses. He said there had been a huge real-term increase in the pay for nurses over the past 10 years.
Mr Blair said it was not popular to introduce the pay awards in stages but it was necessary. He added that there had been a huge real-term increase in the pay for nurses over the past 10 years.
Sir Menzies said the government had lost the confidence of health care workers and their patients.
Sir Menzies said the government had lost the confidence of health care workers and their patients.
Mr Blair said the government had avoided a winter crisis in the NHS the past few years because of extra investment and extra capacity. He said the patient was getting a better deal in the NHS today.
Mr Blair said the government had avoided a winter crisis in the NHS the past few years because of extra investment and extra capacity. He said the patient was getting a better deal in the NHS today.
Mr Cameron asked about who should be prime minister when Mr Blair stands down asking the prime minister to explicitly endorse the chancellor.
Mr Cameron asked about who should be prime minister when Mr Blair stands down, asking the prime minister to explicitly endorse the chancellor, Gordon Brown.
Mr Blair replied that he would make his statement at the time he decided to stand down, but he said Mr Brown had given the Tory frontbench a "drubbing" in Tuesday's occupational pensions debate.
Mr Blair replied that he would make his statement at the time he decided to stand down, but he said Mr Brown had given the Tory frontbench a "drubbing" in Tuesday's occupational pensions debate.
Mr Cameron asked why he had not turned up to vote in the debate and asked why he could not repeat a previous comment backing Mr Blair.
Mr Cameron asked why he had not turned up to vote in the debate and asked why he could not repeat a previous comment backing Mr Blair.
He said: "I'm not asking the prime minister to say anything new. Before the coup last year the prime minister said this: I'm absolutely happy that Gordon will be my successor. Why can't he repeat those words now?"
Mr Blair said on serious policies, Labour had the serious questions and serious answers and Mr Cameron was "not at the races".
Mr Blair said on serious policies, Labour had the serious questions and serious answers and Mr Cameron was "not at the races".
Mr Cameron accused the chancellor of being impossible to work with and asked Mr Blair what he thought was wrong with Mr Brown.
Mr Cameron accused the chancellor of being impossible to work with and asked Mr Blair what he thought was wrong with Mr Brown.
Mr Blair replied: "Let me tell you what's right with him". He said he had delivered the strongest economic growth, low interest rates, rising living standards and said Mr Cameron had only delivered "a big part in Black Wednesday" - a reference to Mr Cameron's role as a political adviser in 1992.
Mr Blair replied: "Let me tell you what's right with him". He said he had delivered strong economic growth, low interest rates, rising living standards and said Mr Cameron had only delivered "a bit part in Black Wednesday" - a reference to Mr Cameron's role as a political adviser to the Conservative chancellor in 1992.
In response to criticism by Liberal Dem Norman Baker about the government's use of the DNA database. Mr Blair said it was "absolutely essential" to use new technology to make the country safer and it had already helped solve serious crimes.
In response to criticism by Liberal Dem Norman Baker about the government's use of the DNA database, Mr Blair said it was "absolutely essential" to use new technology to make the country safer and it had already helped solve serious crimes.
He said the idea that was creating a "police state" showed how far out of touch the Lib Dems were with reality.
He said the idea that was creating a "police state" showed how far out of touch the Lib Dems were with reality.
DUP leader Rev Ian Paisley also associated himself with statements made about the deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan.
DUP leader Rev Ian Paisley also associated himself with statements made about the deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He asked if the prime minister would be coming to the new government in Northern Ireland on 8 May. He said it was his duty as PM to be there "after all the work he did".
He asked if the prime minister would be coming to the new government in Northern Ireland on 8 May. He said it was his duty as PM to be there "after all the work he did".
Mr Blair thanked him for the invitation and said he would keep it in mind.
Mr Blair thanked him for the invitation and said he would keep it in mind.
Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes said that over 10 years of the Labour government, average earnings had gone up 41% whereas average house prices had gone up 169% - leaving many unable to get onto the housing ladder at all.
Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes said that over 10 years of the Labour government, average earnings had gone up 41% whereas average house prices had gone up 169% - leaving many unable to get onto the housing ladder at all.
Mr Blair said living standards had gone up, as had house prices. But he said Britain must be prepared to release more land for development and develop more brownfield sites. He said locally Lib Dems opposed every development there was.
Mr Blair said living standards had gone up, as had house prices. But he said Britain must be prepared to release more land for development and develop more brownfield sites. He said locally Lib Dems opposed every development there was.
"If you want to deal with these problems, there are hard decisions that have to be taken in government," said Mr Blair.
"If you want to deal with these problems, there are hard decisions that have to be taken in government," said Mr Blair.
