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 almost half of hospitals thought targets were "getting in the way of infection control". Mr Brown accused the Tory leader of not having done his research. He said 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.
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.
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".
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".
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".
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.
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.
Stand-in Lib Dem leader Vince Cable asked whether the PM agreed that there was a "moral case" for rewarding marriage in the tax system. Mr Brown paid tribute to former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell for his "integrity", adding that changes to inheritance tax showed the government recognised the family but that the benefits system had to help all children.
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.
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.
More follows
Labour's
Dennis Skinner asked about the Northern Rock crisis. Mr Brown said there was a "black hole" in Tory policy on the economy.
Mr Brown said expenditure on defence was going to rise by more than £1bn a year over the next few years.
Labour's Howard Stoate asked what policies the government had to tackle obesity. Mr Brown said ministers would deal with advertising and food labelling and were pushing for more PE time in schools.
Labour's Sarah McCarthy-Fry asked what could be done to help the people of Burma. Mr Brown said EU sanctions were "important" but that investment sanctions must also be looked at. The UK strategy was also to offer support for a new regime in the country.
Lib Dem Adrian Saunders asked what was being done to help the "renaissance" of seaside towns. Mr Brown said more had to be done and that real-terms expenditure on coastal towns was up by 40% since 1997.
Tory Henry Bellingham asked how forces' accommodation problems "square" with government pledges to uphold the Military Covenant. Mr Brown replied that extra money was being given and that the Tories should "support" this and other expenditure.
Mr Brown said the "rapidly increasing" science budget would help UK innovation.
Conservative David Evennet said London was being "let down by Labour", with hospitals closing. Mr Brown said such comments were like "scare stories" told by David Cameron.
