The main points from prime minister's questions on Wednesday, 30 January, from 1200 GMT:
The main points from prime minister's questions on Wednesday, 30 January, from 1200 GMT:
The session began with Prime Minister Gordon Brown listing the additional responsibilities of the new Secretary of State for Wales, in answer to a question from a Tory MP who asked why Wales got a full time member of cabinet, when Scotland did not.
The session began with Prime Minister Gordon Brown listing the additional responsibilities of the new Secretary of State for Wales, in answer to a question from a Tory MP who asked why Wales got a full time member of cabinet, when Scotland did not.
Tory leader David Cameron asked if the prime minister would adopt the three year campaign from the Conservatives to scrap the form which police officers have to fill in when they carry out a stop and search.
Tory leader David Cameron asked if the prime minister would adopt the three year campaign from the Conservatives to scrap the form which police officers have to fill in when they carry out a stop and search.
Mr Brown said the government was "taking action" to reduce police bureaucracy and would publish the final conclusions of the Flanagan Report on the issue next week.
Mr Brown said the government was "taking action" to reduce police bureaucracy and would publish the final conclusions of the Flanagan Report on the issue next week.
Mr Cameron pressed Mr Brown to say if he would stop a "preacher of hate" from coming into the UK.
Mr Cameron pressed Mr Brown to say if he would stop a "preacher of hate" from coming into the UK.
Mr Brown said an announcement will be made on this "very soon", adding: "We don't expel people in this country other than through proper judicial processes."
Mr Brown said an announcement will be made on this "very soon", adding: "We don't expel people in this country other than through proper judicial processes."
Mr Cameron said Mr Brown was incapable of answering a question or taking a decision. He added: "Shouldn't you just accept that people aren't safe under Labour?"
Mr Cameron said Mr Brown was incapable of answering a question or taking a decision. He added: "Shouldn't you just accept that people aren't safe under Labour?"
Mr Brown said neighbourhood policing, plus more police, community support officers and more people being brought to justice was keeping people safe and had brought crime down.
Mr Brown said neighbourhood policing, plus more police, community support officers and more people being brought to justice was keeping people safe and had brought crime down.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said half of single living accommodation in the armed services was of the lowest standard and half of Apache helicopters were "unfit for service". He told the prime minister there was a "widespread view that you simply do not care about our armed forces".
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said half of single living accommodation in the armed services was of the lowest standard and half of Apache helicopters were "unfit for service". He told the prime minister there was a "widespread view that you simply do not care about our armed forces".
Mr Brown said the government was spending £5bn over the "next period of time" on service accommodation. It had also ordered additional helicopters for Afghanistan and Iraq.
Mr Brown said the government was spending £5bn over the "next period of time" on service accommodation. It had also ordered additional helicopters for Afghanistan and Iraq.
Mr Clegg added: "Why should any British soldiers' families take your words seriously when they feel so let down?" He said there were also shortages in army medical services.
Mr Clegg added: "Why should any British soldiers' families take your words seriously when they feel so let down?" He said there were also shortages in army medical services.
Mr Brown said: "We have been spending substantially on medical services. Many people say that Britain has some of the best medical services for our armed forces in the world."
Mr Brown said: "We have been spending substantially on medical services. Many people say that Britain has some of the best medical services for our armed forces in the world."
Labour's Keith Vaz said a sixth of the entire police force for England and Wales had taken to the streets of Westminster to protest about their pay. He called for assurances that in future pay deals will not be on an annual basis, but will be for the long term.
Labour's Keith Vaz said a sixth of the entire police force for England and Wales had taken to the streets of Westminster to protest about their pay. He called for assurances that in future pay deals will not be on an annual basis, but will be for the long term.
Mr Brown said he hoped the police will enter into long term agreements on pay.
Mr Brown said he hoped the police will enter into long term agreements on pay.
Lib Dem Vincent Cable, who rose to loud and prolonged cheers from all sides, said that after the warning that a million homes were at risk of repossession, would he admit that it was wrong to dismiss as scaremongering that his reckless "boom" would end in bust
Lib Dem Vincent Cable, who rose to loud and prolonged cheers from all sides, said that after the warning that a million homes were at risk of repossession, would he admit that it was wrong to dismiss as scaremongering that his reckless "boom" would end in bust
Mr Brown replied that mortgage repossessions were a fifth of what they were in the 1990s. It was because of low inflation and interest rates that the government was able to tell people that it would steer them through difficult times, he said.
Mr Brown replied that mortgage repossessions were a fifth of what they were in the 1990s. It was because of low inflation and interest rates that the government was able to tell people that it would steer them through difficult times, he said.
Tory Bernard Jenkin asked about Lord Ashdown's decision not to take up the position of UN envoy for Afghanistan. He asked who was going to coordinate the international effort in Afghanistan.
Tory Bernard Jenkin asked about Lord Ashdown's decision not to take up the position of UN envoy for Afghanistan. He asked who was going to coordinate the international effort in Afghanistan.
Mr Brown said he met Afghanistan's President Karzai last week. He said the decision over the envoy's appointment was one for the UN secretary general after consultation with all coalition forces. "I believe Lord Ashdown would have been a good candidate for the job."
Mr Brown said he met Afghanistan's President Karzai last week. He said the decision over the envoy's appointment was one for the UN secretary general after consultation with all coalition forces. "I believe Lord Ashdown would have been a good candidate for the job."
Tory Shailesh Vara asked about the government's apparent U-turn over the introduction of so-called Titan prisons, which Justice Secretary Jack Straw said would not definitely be going ahead. "Is this a Titanic failure?" he asked.
Tory Shailesh Vara asked about the government's apparent U-turn over the introduction of so-called Titan prisons, which Justice Secretary Jack Straw said would not definitely be going ahead. "Is this a Titanic failure?" he asked.
Mr Brown replied that the prisons "will go ahead" subject to consultation.
Mr Brown replied that the prisons "will go ahead" subject to consultation.
Tory Sir Patrick Cormack asked the prime minister how he could reconcile himself with his assurance that Parliament should be "at the centre of our national life", when debate on the European Union Amendment Bill should be subject to a "draconian timetable".
Tory Sir Patrick Cormack asked the prime minister how he could reconcile himself with his assurance that Parliament should be "at the centre of our national life", when debate on the European Union Amendment Bill should be subject to a "draconian timetable".
Mr Brown said the bill was being "discussed in very great detail. It's been discussed last week, this week and the week after".
Mr Brown said the bill was being "discussed in very great detail. It's been discussed last week, this week and the week after".
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Tory
ex-minister Nicholas Soames asked about post office closures. He said four in his Mid-Sussex constituency were ear-marked for closure, and despite a consultation involving over 6,500 people who were mostly in favour of retaining them, the announcement was made that they should go.
Mr Brown said the government had made £1.7bn available to help with post offices. But he said many post offices "were not used in any great detail".
Labour's Martin Salter asked why posters giving advice to young people about forced marriages were not allowed in some schools.
Mr Brown said he was extremely concerned to hear this and the issue would be looked at.
Tory Daniel Kawczynski asked about the threatened closure of village schools in Shropshire.
Mr Brown said his government was serious about expenditure on education.
