ePolitix.com briefing: PMQs

Gordon Brown clashed with David Cameron over youth unemployment during a noisy prime minister's questions today, while Nick Clegg concentrated his fire on changes to the local housing allowance. Skip related content

Later in the session backbench MPs raised an eclectic range of concerns with Gordon Brown.

Ann Begg (Lab, Aberdeen South) began PMQs.

She said that Armistice Day should also be an occasion to think of military personnel currently serving on operations and asked for assurances that troops had the necessary equipment.

She enquired as to when the US would make an announcement on an expected increase in American troops in Afghanistan.

Gordon Brown said Britain was the first country to have agreed to send additional troops for the "next stage" of the mission in Afghanistan.

And the prime minister said he had assurances from the defence chiefs that British troops are and will be sufficiently equipped.

"The extra money we are spending on equipment means there are more vehicles in the field, more helicopters going into the field," he said.

He added that President Obama was expected to announce any American troop increase in the next few days.

Shona McIsaac (Lab, Cleethorpes) asked about the "desecration and vandalism" of war memorials.

Brown said it was important that people never forgot the sacrifices that had been made by British troops.

"We have made funding available for the upkeep of memorials, £1.5m since 2005 and other additional money from the heritage lottery fund," he told MPs.

Alan Simpson (Lab, Nottingham South) asked about the international application of the 'Tobin tax' at a time when nation states were "manifestly failing" to meet funding obligations to eradicate global poverty.

To laughter the prime minister noted it was the first time Simpson had supported any of his economic proposals.

"We will have to consider measures that bring financial institutions in line with the values held by the most of the people around the world," he added.

Tim Loughton (Con, East Worthing and Shoreham) said that a Local Government Assosiation report showed 60 per cent of local authorities were struggling to retain and recruit key child protection workers in the wake of the Baby P case.

He said many felt they were "shackled to computers", spending too much time on bureaucratic procedures.

Brown said the government had taken swift action following the tragedy of Baby P.

And he said he believed there to be wide support in the Commons for the recommendations of the Laming report into child protection.

Ken Purchase (Lab, Wolverhampton North East) raised concerns about care homes for the elderly.

He accused Conservative and Liberal Democrat local councils of "closing care homes and evicting very elderly people."

Brown told MPs the government was due to publish a national care strategy to help those who are in need of help in care homes.

Andrew Mackay (Con, Bracknell) raised the controversy over planned changes to child tax vouchers.

Mackay said the move would be "immensely damaging" to working women.

The prime minister insisted that nobody who is receiving tax relief for childcare vouchers would lose it.

"No government has done more to advance childcare in our country," he said.

Jim Dobbin (Lab/Coop, Heywood and Middleton) asked about private healthcare and travel insurance.

"Will the prime minister look at a report that is out soon by the law commission recommending reforms to the insurance industry?" he asked.

Brown said that it was an important area for consumer protection.

"We will consider the Law Commission's proposals very thoroughly," he added.

Andrew Pelling (Con, Croydon Central) called for a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union at the time of the general election.

The prime minister seized on Pelling's comments as the views of the "real Tory party"

Referring to David Cameron he said: "This is a man who made a cast ion commitment to have a referendum.

"What faith can the public have in any promise he makes now," he said.

Elliot Morley (Lab, Scunthorpe) called for continued support for the manufacturing industry.

The prime minister said that the help given to small business had been "absolutely vital".

"200,000 businesses, including businesses in Scunthorpe and Grimsby have benefited from help we have given," he said.

Roger Gale (Con, North Thanet) called on the prime minister to ensure that ex-pat Britons received all the benefits to which they were entitled.

Brown offered to write to Gale on the matter.

Brian Jenkins (Lab, Tamworth) asked about the discovery of Anglo-Saxon gold in his region.

The prime minister said Jenkins made a "strong case" for the gold going to Tamworth.

"I think the British Museum is keen to see it does remain in the West Midlands to see, if not use," he said.

Gerald Howarth (Con, Aldershot) spoke about the deaths of British service personnel in Afghanistan.

The shadow defence minister urged the prime minister to better communicate to the public the necessity of the mission in Afghanistan.

Brown said everyone should be "so proud" of the work done by British forces abroad.

"They are committed they are brave they are utterly professional," he said.

He acknowledged that the government had to communicate to the public why the mission was needed.

Phil Wilson (Lab, Sedgefield) said a recent study by the Commonwealth Fund showed that the NHS offered the best primary health care in the world.

He urged the prime minister to show that the NHS was safe in his hands.

Brown said that it was, and it was unfortunate that the Opposition refused to match Labour commitments on waiting times.

Phil Willis (Lib Dem, Harrogate and Knaresborough) asked about carers.

He said that only 10 per cent of the £50m budget earmarked to support respite care was used.

Brown said he wanted to make sure that the money allocated for carers was spent.