The main points from prime minister's questions on Wednesday, 12 December, from 1200 BST:
The main points from prime minister's questions on Wednesday, 12 December, from 1200 BST:
Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent his condolences to the family and friends of Sgt Lee Johnson, who was killed in Afghanistan on Saturday.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent his condolences to the family and friends of Sgt Lee Johnson, who was killed in Afghanistan on Saturday.
In response to the opening question Mr Brown said the granting of licences to export arms had been formally separated from the promotion of arms exports, through the defence exports organisation.
In response to the opening question Mr Brown said the granting of licences to export arms had been formally separated from the promotion of arms exports, through the defence exports organisation.
Julian Lewis (Conservative New Forest East) asked why Lord Drayson was not on the list of ministers consulted on the decision, saying this was why Lord Drayson preferred to go motor racing than serve in government, referring to the peer's announcement that he had quit to try and qualify for the Le Mans 24 hour race.
Julian Lewis (Conservative New Forest East) asked why Lord Drayson was not on the list of ministers consulted on the decision, saying this was why Lord Drayson preferred to go motor racing than serve in government, referring to the peer's announcement that he had quit to try and qualify for the Le Mans 24 hour race.
Mr Brown said Lord Drayson had left the government for "personal reasons" which he hoped everyone would understand.
Mr Brown said Lord Drayson had left the government for "personal reasons" which he hoped everyone would understand.
Conservative leader David Cameron asked about the deadline on the future status of Kosovo.
Conservative leader David Cameron asked about the deadline on the future status of Kosovo.
Mr Brown said it should move to "supervised independence" without violence.
Mr Brown said it should move to "supervised independence" without violence.
Mr Cameron said there were three principles which needed to be followed - avoiding constitutional limbo, no re-opening of borders anywhere else in the region and putting a Nato reserve force into the area to stabilise it.
Mr Cameron said there were three principles which needed to be followed - avoiding constitutional limbo, no re-opening of borders anywhere else in the region and putting a Nato reserve force into the area to stabilise it.
Acting
Lib Dem leader Vince Cable asked which of the "disasters" would trouble him the most when he had his "one day off" at Christmas - the election that never was, Northern Rock or the "gross incompetence" of losing 25 million people's personal data.
Mr
Brown said it would be "premature" to comment.
Mr
Brown said it was "nice" to have had Mr Cable leading his party in recent times - and "given the history of the Liberal party it might not be long before he is back in that place".
Acting
Lib Dem leader Vince Cable asked which of the "disasters" would trouble Mr Brown the most when he had his "one day off" at Christmas - the election that never was, Northern Rock or the "gross incompetence" of losing 25 million people's personal data.
Mr Brown said it was "nice" to have had Mr Cable appearing as his party's leader - and "given the history of the Liberal party it might not be long before he is back in that place".
He said the government had made the "right long-term decisions in the interests of the country".
He said the government had made the "right long-term decisions in the interests of the country".
Mr Cable said: "Given his own position, the prime minister might not be wise to speculate on leadership elections".
Mr Cable said: "Given his own position, the prime minister might not be wise to speculate on leadership elections".
He said Mr Brown's "real disaster" was his "personal responsibility for the continuing tragedy in Iraq". He asked if Mr Brown was aware that 40 women had been executed in Basra for 'personal immorality'. He said the UK had handed over control of the area from the fascist leadership of Saddam Hussein to fascist militias.
He said Mr Brown's "real disaster" was his "personal responsibility for the continuing tragedy in Iraq". He asked if Mr Brown was aware that 40 women had been executed in Basra for 'personal immorality'. He said the UK had handed over control of the area from the fascist leadership of Saddam Hussein to fascist militias.
Mr Brown said Iraq was now a democracy and there had been a 90% fall in violence in Basra recently.
Mr Brown said Iraq was now a democracy and there had been a 90% fall in violence in Basra recently.
Former environment minister Michael Meacher called for a inquiry into the transparency of the UK banking system in the light of recent scandals.
Former environment minister Michael Meacher called for a inquiry into the transparency of the UK banking system in the light of recent scandals.
Conservative MP Michael Fabricant asked why police officers Scotland were paid more than those in England.
Conservative MP Michael Fabricant asked why police officers in Scotland were paid more than those in England.
Mr Brown said a planned increase in the number of officers in Scotland had been dropped to pay for wage increases.
Mr Brown said a planned increase in the number of officers in Scotland had been dropped to pay for wage increases.
David Cameron used his second set of questions to pressure Mr Brown about the government's competence, accusing the prime minister of presiding over an "utterly dysfunctional" government and of "dithering" over issues such as the signing of the EU reform treaty, Northern Rock and pensions.
David Cameron used his second set of questions to pressure Mr Brown about the government's competence, accusing the prime minister of presiding over an "utterly dysfunctional" government and of "dithering" over issues such as the signing of the EU reform treaty, Northern Rock and pensions.
Mr Brown accused Mr Cameron of lacking substance.
Mr Brown accused Mr Cameron of lacking substance and wanting to ask questions about "gossip".
Mr Cameron said Mr Brown's problems were all about substance. He cited the foreign secretary having a speech re-written at the last moment, the security minister changing his mind on terror detention and a Chancellor who is so left out of decisions "he has become a national joke in the City of London".
Mr Cameron said Mr Brown's problems were all about substance. He cited the foreign secretary having a speech re-written at the last moment, the security minister changing his mind on terror detention and a Chancellor who is so left out of decisions "he has become a national joke in the City of London".
He accused Mr Brown of "drift, dithering and incompetence," and said "wasn't 2007 the year he got found out?"
He accused Mr Brown of "drift, dithering and incompetence," and said "wasn't 2007 the year he got found out?"
Mr Brown hit back, saying: "Pre-prepared phrases and still after two years leading the Conservative Party absolutely no substance".
Mr Brown hit back, saying: "Pre-prepared phrases and still after two years leading the Conservative Party absolutely no substance".
Answering a question on pensions, Mr Brown said he was confident that he will be able to guarantee 90% of the pensions of the 125,000 people who lost their retirement funds when their schemes collapsed.
Answering a question from Adrian Sanders (Lib Dem, Torbay) on pensions, Mr Brown said he was confident that he will be able to guarantee 90% of the pensions of the 125,000 people who lost their retirement funds when their schemes collapsed.
He hoped the government would make an announcement in "the next few days".
He hoped the government would make an announcement in "the next few days".
David Amess (Conservative, Southend West) asked whether Mr Brown had been watching "The Blair Years", in which he said Tony Blair claimed credit for granting independence to the Bank of England. He asked who was responsible for the "terrible shambles" in the financial system, Mr Brown, the Chancellor, Mr Blair, "or is at all the fault of the opposition, Mr Bean or dear old Santa Claus?"
Mr Brown said it was a decision made by "this government" and it had been "right" for the country.
On Afghanistan, Mr Brown said the coalition was "winning the battle against the insurgency - isolating and eliminating the leadership of the Taliban, not negotiating with them."
On Afghanistan, Mr Brown said the coalition was "winning the battle against the insurgency - isolating and eliminating the leadership of the Taliban, not negotiating with them."
