Cameron was in algeria wednesday for talks concerning the recent hostage situation that left six brittons dead and made a surprise visit to libya. He took questions from the british house of commons in his weekly question time session which topics included state of the economy, housing benefits for veterans and a proposed tax increase on beer and alcohol. This is 35 minutes. Order. Questions to the Prime Minister. Alison seabeck. Thank you, mr. Speaker. This morning i had meetings with mine tieral colleagues and others and in addition to my duties in the house i will have other meetings today. Alison sea beck. Im hear to speak, it right a mother in his constituency should not speak of the bedroom tax and confirm why her minister be able to offer her son, serving in the magestys armed forces either a home or a bedroom on his return from duty . The reforms to housing benefit that were putting in place, ill very happily look at the case, as the honorable lady says. But the reforms that are put in place have a very clear principle of the heart. There are many people in private rented accommodation who do not have housing benefits and cant afford extra bedrooms and we have to get control of housing benefits. Were now spending as a country 23 billion pounds on housing benefits and we have to get that budget under control. Rebecca harris. Do my honorable friend welcome todays news that University Applications for u. K. Universities are up 3. 5 this year, their highest level ever for disadvantaged students. I think my honorable friend makes a very important point about the figures that have been released this morning. After all of the concerns that were expressed about the new way of paying for university finance, reducing the number of students applying for university, the number of 18yearolds has actually gone up and it is at level now where it was in 2011 which is higher than any year under the last labor government. Edward miliband. Mr. Speaker, in october the Prime Minister told me that when it came to the economy, and i quote, the good news will keep coming. After last weeks gross figures, it obviously hasnt. Whats his excuse this time . As the right honorable gentleman knows, g. D. P. In the Third Quarter of last year went up by. 9 and as forecast by the budget of Office Responsibility it fell in the Fourth Quarter by 0. 3 . Only honorable members opposite could cheer that news. But i think the right honorable gentleman should listen to the governor of england who said this, our economy is recovering more slowly than we might wish but are moving in the right direction. The falling unemployment numbers quickly back that up. Edward miliband. An extraordinarily complacent answer from the Prime Minister. Does he understand the scale of his failure on growth . They told us in autumn 2010 that by now the economy would have grown by over 5 . Can the Prime Minister tell us by how much the economy has actually grown since then . Theres absolutely nothing complacent about this government and that is why were cutting corporations back and investing in enterprise zones, a million apprenticeships have perhaps started under this government. Let me point out to him what is actually happening in our economy. One million new private sector jobs. In the last year alone, half a million private sector jobs, the fastest rate of job creation since 1989. That is what is happening. But do we need to do more to get the banks lending, to get businesses investing . Yes, we do, and under this government we will. Edward miliband. Mr. Speaker, just for once, why doesnt he give us a straight answer to the straight question. Growth was not 5 as he forecast but north the parttime chancellor is about to give him some advice. I have to say to the parttime chancellor, he should spend more time worrying about our economy and less time worrying about how to divert highspeed rail routes away from its constituency. Weve had a flat lining, we had a flat i have to say, he shakes his head. But what does his Council Leader say . Your m. P. Mr. Ellis, you are a distinguished practicing barrister. You wouldnt behave like that in the courts, dont behave like that in this chamber. Calm yourself and be quiet. Learn p, man Edward Miliband . I am embarrassed. Because he knows the truth. Growth was not 5 but. 4 . And a flat economy means Living Standards are falling. His execute is that other countries have done worse than us. So can he confirm that since the chancellors Spending Review more than two years ago, out of 20 major g20 economies, britain has been 18th out of 20 for growth . First of all, let me say on highspeed rail which goes right through the middle of the chancellors constituency, were proud of the fact that this government has taken the decision to invest. Just as if this government that is building cross rail which is the biggest construction plan anywhere in europe. Now, he asked about other european economies. The fact is it you listen to the european union, the oecd, or the i. M. F. , they all point out that britain will have the fastest growth of any major economy in europe this year. But i have to ask him, what is his plan . We all know it. Its a threepoint plan, more spending, more borrowing, more debt. Exactly the things that got us into the mess in the first place. I have to say that we have got used to that kind of answer from the Prime Minister. He promises a better tomorrow and tomorrow never comes. That is the reality. And he couldnt deny the fact that were 18th out of 20 countries. Weve done worse than the u. S. A. , worse than canada, worse than germany, worse than france because of his decisions. Now, last week, the chief economist of the i. M. F. Said this. He said, if things look bad at the beginning of 2013, which they do and he was talking about the u. K. Then there should be a reassessment of fiscal policy. So, mr. Speaker, after two years of no growth, can the Prime Minister tell us whether he thinks he should do anything differently in the next two years . Well, first of all, i would say that he should listen to the managing director of the i. M. F. Who said this she said this, when i think back myself of may 2010 when the u. K. Deficit was at 11 , when you were in office, right . And i tried to imagine what the situation would be like today if no such Fiscal Consolidation program had been decided, i shiver. That is what the i. M. F. Says about the plans of the last labor government. Now, he raises the issue of growth. Order it is not acceptable to shout down either the Prime Minister or the leader of the opposition and the public have a very low opinion of that kind of behavior. Lets hear the questions and hear the answers. The Prime Minister . He raises the issue of america and american growth. The fact is our recession was longer and deeper than the recession in america. The biggest banking bust was not an american bank, it was a british bank. They want to talk about tomorrow because he doesnt want to talk about yesterday when the two people responsible for the regulation of the bank and the performance of our economy are sitting right there on the opposition benches. Once again, a completely incompensable answer, mr. Speaker. I think basically, the answer he didnt want to give is more of the same, more of the same that is not working. And he mentioned borrowing, mr. Speaker. Hes borrowing 212 billion pounds more than he promised. Now, last week, he told the country in a Party Political broadcast that he was, and i quote, paying down britains debts. But the debt is rising. And he has borrowed 7. 2 billion pound more so far this year compared to last year. Wont just admit, its hurting but it just isnt working. If the right honorable gentleman thinks theres a problem with borrowing, why does he want to borrow more . The institution for fiscal studies says that labors plans would basically add 200 billion pounds to britains borrowing. He has made absolutely no apology for the mess they made of the economy. Hes whole message to the british people is give the car keys back to the people who crashed the car in the first place. They didnt regulate the banks. They built up the debts. Were clearing up the mess that he made. Edward miliband. He is borrowing for failure. That is the reality. And hes borrowing more for failure. That is the reality of his record. And here is the truth, they said they would balance the books. They havent. They said there would be growth, there isnt. They said britain was out of the danger zone, its not. Isnt it the truth hes run out of excuses for the fact that on his watch, because of his decisions, this is the slowest recovery for a hundred years. He talks about failure, were dealing with year after year of failure from the party opposite. They didnt regulate the banks, they built up the debt and had a unbalanced economy. What is happening under this government is a million private sector jobs, unemployment down since the election, the fastest rate of business correction in recent history, a balance of payment surplus in cars. Were balancing the mess theyre making and are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past because they hadnt learned their lesses and why the British Public will never trust them with the economy again. Andrew griffiths. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Like the Prime Minister, i want to see a fresh settlement to europe. British beer drinkers pay 13 times more duty than british drinkers. Spanish drinkers british drinkers pay nine times more duty than spanish drinkers and 10 times more duty than italian drinkers. Will he take the chancellor for a pint and tell him to scrap the beer duty escalator and do something for the british pubs and British Public . My honorable friend, quite rightly speaks for burton. I remember visiting the great brewerry with him during the last election. I am sure that the lance chore will have listened carefully to what he said. I think its important that we try to support the pub trade in our country. Mr. Speaker, thousands of constituents in poorly insulated homes fear sky high cold weather bills. The government dween deal has 7 interest charges with only five households that signed up for it. How does the Prime Minister achieve that fiasco . First of all, i hope the honorable gentleman will welcome the green deal because it gives the households the opportunity to cut costs and should be encouraging his citizens to do that. Its only just begun. The Energy Company obligation, eco, provides the opportunity to insulate some 230,000 homes a year compared with 80,000 under warm front. Instead of talking down these schemes, he should be encouraging his constituents to take them up. Adrian sanders. Mr. Speaker, two men have drowned in stormy sees off torquay in separate incidents this week despite the efforts of the brave lifeboat crews and the coordination of the coast guard. How will the Prime Minister reassure the fisherman who pay significant amounts of duty and taxes on their catch that the coast guard station is closed the risks will increase . Its a good point to Pay Attention to our coast guard and the dangerous work that they do. As he knows, the governments examination of the coast guard hasnt been about reducing the number of boats or active stations but about the Coordination Centers and where theyre best located and thats an important point to make. Dave watts. Mr. Speaker, why is it the case that the Prime Minister is frightened to go and visit a food bank . Could it be that he visited if he visited one, hed see the heartless britain that he is creating . Only yesterday i was discussing with the person who runs the food bank in my constituency, which i will be visiting very shortly. He pointed out to me it was established five years ago and it is worth remembering that Food Bank Use went up 10 times under the last labor government. But i think instead of criticizing people who run food banks, we should be thanking them for the work they do. Richard drax . Thank you, mr. Speaker. Im sure the Prime Minister will join me in praising all those who work in the search and rescue service. Can i ask the Prime Minister to intervene personally in our battle to save the poor search and rescue helicopter and ask his ministers to come down to dorsett to listen to those who work in the lifesaving service before it is cut. Repeated requests so far have been ignored and a visit would be at the least, courteous and wise. But i know that my the transport the former transport secretary of state and other ministers of the department have met with my honorable friend and im sure would have listened carefully to what he said as well as paying tribute to the coast guard and its a Good Opportunity to pay tribute to the search and rescue services across the country. Our reforms are aimed to improve average response times by 20 and why were going ahead with these reforms but im sure the ministers will listen carefully to what he said. Russell brown. Thank you, Prime Minister. Since you came into office, unemployment has prison by 50 and youth unemployment rich by 9 . My honorable friend made reference to the words in reference to good news will keep coming. Would the Prime Minister be good enough to explain to the house and my constituents exactly what is his definition of good news especially in view of the economy that shrank at the end of last year and that that will lead to further economic failure . If you look at scotland, in scotland, unemployment has fallen by 14,000 this quarter. Its fallen by 10,000 since the general election. The number of people employed in scotland has actually gone up. And at one point i think it is important, because we raised the tax thresholds is 180,000 people across scotland have been taken out of income tax altogether. Theres much more we need to do but i think that represents progress. Sir peter bottomley. On syria, its now clear that the Syrian People would be much better off if china and russia not blocked effective action authorized by the united nations. Can my honorable friend say what were doing to try to help the poor people of syria . Hear, hear. Well, first of all, my right old friend, the International Development secretary has, like me, visited the Syrian Border and seen the refugee camps for herself and britain, i believe, with is the second largest donor for health and aid into those camps and is right to say one of the biggest thing to happen is for the chinese and russians consider again their positions and recognize the transition at the top of syria would be good for the whole of that part of the world and i believe good for russia as well. We should continue to work with the opposition groups in syria to put pressure on the regime, not the least through sanctions, but also provide aid and health for those who are fleeing it. Graham m. Morris . Thank you, speaker, Seaham School of technology serves a growing population and some of the most deprived wards in the country and needs replacement. Will the Prime Minister acknowledge the real reason for the latest proposed pfi funded scene in my constituency is that the banks refuse to lend the money on the 25year term demanded by his education secretary . Will he speak in plain language, maybe in latin, to the education secretary . Perhaps he might say optamus schola nova, we need a new school . Ill leave the latin to the mayor of london but would have a word with the education secretary. What i would say to him is it you look at School Capital budget as a whole, they are equivalent to what the previous labor government did in their early terms. The money is there. In terms of the banks, the funding lending scheme from the bank of england, evidence shows it is having an effect on lowering Interest Rates and reforming p. F. I. But also offering infrastructure guarantees, something the treasury never has done before to help projects go ahead. Damian hinds . Nothing is more important in the early years education than the caring people delivering it. Does the Prime Minister agree raising the bar and elevating their status will help the prestige to the profession and help parents give children the best start in life . I think my honorable friend is absolutely light and right and would pay tribute to the department of education produced yesterday in a series of proposals to expand the availability and affordability of childcare while also making sure there is a real quality. We look across europe and see countries with good and affordable childcare, there are lessons to learn from them and to those who say change the ratios are wrong, i would say look at the ratios in countries like denmark or france, were coming into line with those and we, too, can provide more available and affordable childcare so the people who want to go to work are able to because they can find the commiled care they need. Angus robertson . Today the Scottish Government accepted the Electoral Commission welcomed proposal referendum in full. Among the recommendations are that the u. K. Government and Scottish Governments should clarify what process will follow the referendum for either outcome. Given the u. K. Government and indeed the labor party have called for the full acceptance of the Electoral Co