Public affairs, government relations and public relations
Prime Minister's Questions
October 12, 2011
Alan Beith: What will PM do about women in their late fifties who keep seeing their retirement age rising?
David Cameron: It is right to equalise the state pension ages for men and women, and to raise the retirement age. Large numbers are affected and government will shortly make an announcement.
Ed Miliband: Given unemployment has risen 114,000 today doesn't it show his plan is not working?
DC: Every lost job is a tragedy, and this government will do all it can to help people into work - including the work programme, welfare reform and reforming schools. This plan has given us record low interest rates.
EM: Today's figures show his plan isn't working. He should accept responsibility.
DC: I accept responsibility - I wish those in government for 13 years would also. We have cut taxes on petrol and corporation tax and we are reforming the planning system. If we changed course on deficit reduction we would end up with Portuguese or Greek interest rates.
EM: He needs a credible plan to get people back to work. When did unemployment among women hit the current level?
DC: There are more people in work since the election, and more women in work. The CBI and IoD support us, while former Labour cabinet ministers won't even back him.
EM: Conservative Chair of Treasury Select Committee has attacked his policies. Women's unemployment at its highest level since 1988. He should be apologising to the women of this country. How many businesses have taken part in the Chancellor's scheme?
DC: 7,000. Of course I want to see more women in work, and there are 50,000 more women in work since the election. We have extended childcare and increased child tax credits. Under his plan we would need to borrow from the IMF.
EM: His policies and plan aren't working.
DC: You cannot borrow your way out of a debt crisis. Their answer is to borrow more money. Is it any wonder the former Labour trade minister attacked his speech? He has no credibility whatsoever.
EM: He is fighting to save the job of the defence secretary but of no one else.
DC: They borrowed too much, spent too much and left us with a mess to clear up.
N Griffiths: Will the PM produce a list of all Downing Street staff who have met Adam Werrity?
DC: I am happy to look at that.
Lorraine Fullbrook: How can we help people at BAE?
DC: It is a great British company and we are investing in more drones and Typhoons.
Andy Slaughter asked about the NHS.
DC replied that NHS spending is rising in this Parliament. Labour's position is that this is irresponsible.
James Morris: Will the government do all it can to help Britain's problem families?
DC: There is much intervention from police and social services but little to turn things around. So we are putting huge resources into this. We can make a huge difference for those families and reduce the burden on the taxpayer.
Denis Macshane: Will the PM attack the show trial we now see in Ukraine and prevent them joining EU until this ends?
DC: This is disgraceful and the foreign secretary has made a statement on this. It damages Ukraine's relationship with Britain and the EU.
Martin Spencer: Welfare system rewards not working in many. What can we do?
DC: We will put in place a cap on housing benefit and the universal credit will ensure it is always worthwhile to work.
Pat Glass: If a Minister breaks ministerial code should he resign or not?
DC: The defence secretary is being investigated. Let us allow the cabinet secretary to proceed. The defence secretary is doing an excellent job.
Keith Vaz: Will PM update house about the issue of gender equality for royal succession before any future royal children are born?
DC: I have consulted other Commonwealth Heads of State and this will be discussed at CHOGC.
Kelvin Hopkins: Sir John Major says we should use EU crisis to withdraw from Common Fisheries Policy. Will he do this?
DC: As well as fixing eurozone economies we need to make single market work for the UK.
Henry Smith: A recent TaxPayers' Alliance report reveals 38 union leaders received over £100,000 each. Is it time for union boss pay restraint?
DC: Labour will always listen to the union bosses, but they won't listen to the TaxPayers' Alliance because they don't want to face these issues.
