The main points from prime minister's questions on Wednesday, 16 January, from 1200 GMT:
The main points from prime minister's questions on Wednesday, 16 January, from 1200 GMT:
Answering a question from Robert Flello (Labour, Stoke-on-Trent North), Prime Minister Gordon Brown said people were right to be concerned about the economy but he said UK inflation was 2.1% and employment had risen and unemployment was down - "the best employment record in history".
Answering a question from Robert Flello (Labour, Stoke-on-Trent North), Prime Minister Gordon Brown said people were right to be concerned about the economy but he said UK inflation was 2.1% and employment had risen and unemployment was down - "the best employment record in history".
Conservative leader David Cameron asked if all the taxpayers money given to Northern Rock would be paid back. Mr Brown said shareholders and depositors were "let down by a bad business plan". He said the government was still looking for a private buyer for the bank but no option was ruled out. He said Mr Cameron had supported the government's actions on Northern Rock in September last year
Conservative leader David Cameron asked if all the taxpayers money given to Northern Rock would be paid back. Mr Brown said shareholders and depositors were "let down by a bad business plan". He said the government was still looking for a private buyer for the bank but no option was ruled out. He said Mr Cameron had supported the government's actions on Northern Rock in September last year.
Mr Cameron called on Mr Brown to confirm that of £55bn of public funds - including £20bn in emergency loans and £29bn in guarantees - had been put into Northern Rock. He accused Mr Brown of "dither and delay" over the rescue of Northern Rock, saying he had done so because he was planning a general election. He said Mr Brown was advised to make an immediate sale of the bank after the run on it last September.
Mr Brown said "we do not provide a running commentary on figures". He said the government intervened to protect depositors and the wider economy. He asked if the Conservatives supported such action. He also denied Mr Cameron's claim that Lloyds TSB had offered to buy Northern Rock immediately after the run on the bank.
Mr Cameron said Mr Brown had "dithered and delayed" over a range of decisions. The prime minister said Mr Cameron's Conservatives had "changed their position every day" on Northern Rock.
