The main points from prime minister's questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 24 October, from 1200 BST:
The main points from prime minister's questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 24 October, from 1200 BST:
Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered his condolences to the family and friends of the three people who drowned off the coast of the Algarve, Portugal.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered his condolences to the family and friends of the three people who drowned off the coast of the Algarve, Portugal.
In response to a question from Labour MP George Howarth Mr Brown defended targets in the NHS.
In response to a question from Labour MP George Howarth Mr Brown defended targets in the NHS.
Conservative leader David Cameron asked why the government was planning to "confiscate" surplus cash from schools that have performed well.
Conservative leader David Cameron asked why the government was planning to "confiscate" surplus cash from schools who have planned their budgets carefully.
Mr Brown said the government was considering how best to spend the £1.7bn to improve education for all pupils. The result of a consultation would be published in the next week he said.
Mr Brown said the government was considering how best to spend the £1.7bn to improve education for all pupils. The result of a consultation would be published in the next week he said.
Mr Cameron called on the government to allow the schools to keep their surpluses, give up his "mania for state control" and trust head teachers.
Mr Cameron called on Mr Brown to allow the schools to keep their surpluses, give up his "mania for state control" and trust head teachers.
Mr Brown said the schools only had surpluses because of special payments made to them.
Mr Brown said the schools only had surpluses because of special payments made to them "and also because they have added to these special payments by their efforts".
Acting
Lib Dem leader Vince Cable accused the government of preparing to abandon its commitment to its 20% renewable energy target, asking if it meant "Brown is less green than Blair".
He told MPs: "We want that money used to best effect and it is because we gave money to the schools and allowed them to spend the money that it is possible for them to have the £1.7bn and our consultation will be made in the next few days and our consultation will be announced".
Mr
Brown said the EU was publishing "what they believe each country can do" and there would be a consultation on the way ahead.
Acting
Lib Dem leader Vince Cable asked if "Brown is less green than Blair" because one of his ministers wanted to reduce the renewable energy target to 10%.
He
said the Tories and the Lib Dems would face difficult decisions over the Severn barrage, and onshore and offshore wind farms, which he said they had been opposed to.
Mr
Brown said the EU was publishing "what they believe each country can do" on renewable energy and there would be a consultation on the way ahead.
On
Iran, Mr Brown said he ruled nothing out but believed the diplomatic route and sanctions were having an effect and should be stepped up.
Mr
Brown said the Tories and the Lib Dems would face difficult decisions over government initiatives such as the Severn barrage, and onshore and offshore wind farms, which he said they had been opposed to.
On Iran, Mr Brown said he ruled nothing out but he believed the diplomatic route and sanctions were having an effect and should be stepped up.
Turning to a report on the Scottish elections, David Cameron called for an apology over the conduct of Labour ministers.
Turning to a report on the Scottish elections, David Cameron called for an apology over the conduct of Labour ministers.
Mr Brown said the Gould Report into the confusion caused by the ballot papers in May, does not blame individuals or parties.
Mr Brown said the Gould Report into the confusion caused by the ballot papers in May does not blame individuals or parties.
Mr Cameron said the report says ministers put partisan political interests before the voters' interests. He asked how International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander could lecture other countries about electoral "probity" given his own track record at the Scottish elections.
Mr Cameron said the report says ministers put partisan political interests before the voters' interests. He asked how International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander could lecture other countries about electoral "probity" given his own track record at the Scottish elections.
Mr Brown said Mr Cameron was "misleading people" about the conclusions of the report.
Mr Brown said Mr Cameron was "misleading people" about the conclusions of the report.
This sparked a rebuke from Speaker Michael Martin who called for "temperate language from the prime minister". MPs are not allowed accuse other members of lying in the House of Commons.
This sparked a rebuke from Speaker Michael Martin who called for "temperate language from the prime minister". MPs are not allowed accuse other members of lying in the House of Commons.
Continues
Mr
Cameron said he did not know how the prime minister had the "gall" to accuse him of misleading anyone, and called for former Scottish Secretary Mr Alexander to explain himself to MPs and be stripped of his current responsibility for elections.
Gerald Howarth, Conservative, Aldershot, raised the case of a "real life Billy Elliott" from his constituency who had secured a place at the Bolshoi Ballet, but whose mother had been denied child benefit as a result. Mr Brown promised to look into the case.
In response to a question from Labour MP Sally Keeble, Mr Brown said the government was determined to improve breast cancer screening - and pledged that all women referred to a specialist will get an appointment within two weeks, whether they are suspected of having cancer or not.
Eric Illsley, Labour Barnsley Central, called for Mr Brown to put pressure on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to release details of a decision it had made on a dementia drug.
Mr Brown said it would be inappropriate to comment in the light of current legal action.
SNP MP Peter Wishart called for the Scottish Parliament to take responsibility for Scottish elections - and urged Mr Brown to apologise for the 140,000 Scottish voters who lost their vote due to "clumsy attempts gerrymandering" and "monumental bungling" of the Scottish Office.
Mr Brown said he regretted the fact that people were not able to vote but he the SNP supported the current Scottish electoral system and the Gould report said all parties must take their share of the blame for what went wrong.
Responding to a question from Labour MP Lindsay Hoyle, Mr Brown pledged to increase the number of foreign prisoners deported from the UK.
