The main points from prime minister's questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 17 October, from 1200 BST:
The main points from prime minister's questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 17 October, from 1200 BST:
Tory MP Graham Brady asked whether new tax rules would increase the bill for pensioners. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said capital gains tax was down and the economy had improved under Labour.
Tory MP Graham Brady asked whether new tax rules would increase the bill for pensioners. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said capital gains tax was down and the economy had improved under Labour.
Labour's Anne Snelgrove asked about victims of the Farepak scheme. Mr Brown said he would meet Ms Snelgrove.
Labour's Anne Snelgrove asked about victims of the Farepak scheme. Mr Brown said he would meet Ms Snelgrove.
Tory leader David Cameron asked whether the number of hospital-acquired C Difficile infections were partly down to the government's "top-down" health targets. Mr Brown said targets were necessary and that investment in health was needed.
Tory leader David Cameron asked whether the number of hospital-acquired C Difficile infections were partly down to the government's "top-down" health targets. Mr Brown said targets were necessary and that investment in health was needed.
Mr Cameron said almost half of hospitals thought targets were "getting in the way of infection control". Mr Brown said his opposite had "not done his research" and that targets had cut disease and that Mr Cameron had voted against more spending on the NHS.
Mr Cameron said Mr Brown had promised to listen to people but was not listening to NHS workers. MRSA and C Difficile deaths were up, he added. But the prime minister said £100m had been put into tackling the infections and that patients would be screened, with wards deep-cleaned. There was a £6bn black hole in Conservative spending plans, Mr Brown said.
The Tory leader said the PM should "call an election" if he wanted to look at his party's policy.
Mr Cameron said the "overwhelming majority" of people wanted a referendum on the EU treaty and asked why one was not being held. Mr Brown said the treaty was "different" from the discarded EU constitution, on which a public vote was promised. Only Ireland was proposing a referendum on the treaty, as it was constitutionally bound to do so. He called on Mr Cameron to be "honest".
The Tory leader asked why people should "trust" Labour. Mr Brown said he would "do what is right for the British people".
Mr Brown said Mr Cameron was "good at PR", targeting comments made during his visit to California to meet governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Tory leader said the PM was "scared" of losing a referendum. But Mr Brown said the government would "at all times stand up for the British national interest".
The PM said he wished England's rugby team his "best wishes" in the World Cup final on Saturday.
Stand-in Lib Dem leader Vince Cable asked whether the PM agreed that there is a "moral case" for rewarding marriage in the tax system. Mr Brown paid tribute to former Lib Dem leader for his "integrity", adding that changed to inheritance tax showed the government recognised the family but that the benefits system had to help all chidlren.
Mr Cable asked why the inheritance tax system discriminated against "millions" of unmarried couples. The PM said the Lib Dems had too many spending commitments.
