1232: And that’s it. And here’s my quick verdict: a solid performance from Cameron is what was, on the whole, a sedate session. The Main Event starts now, follow our live blog here.
1228: More fire from Cameron on the NHS. “Do you want to save … lives,” he quivers,” or do you want to stick with the status quo.” The PM’s rhetorical confidence in this area is striking, particularly given that it is one of his most criticised policy areas.
1226: Matthew Hancock questions why the Labour government used PFI contracts to build hospitals, when there were better value alternatives. The Tories have spent the past few days emphasising Labour waste, as the blame game heats up ahead of the Budget.
1224: Respectful silence as David Blunkett suggests that gains from the bank sell-offs should go towards funding a nationwide volunteering programme. And a respectful answer from
Cameron: the gains from bank sell-offs are some way off, but he wants to strengthen volunteering in the meantime.
1221: Cameron insists that he is “passionate” about the NHS, but that “anyone who says that we can’t do better is mad.” The coalition is enjoying painting Labour as a
Roadblock to Reform on this front.
1219: Light back-and-forth about Sheffield Forgemasters. Cameron says that they can apply for money via the Regional Growth Fund.
1217: Cameron is trampling across Miliband’s ground. In reference to a council tax freeze, he admits that “people are struggling with the cost of living.” He adds, teasingly, that “I hope the Chancellor will have more to say on that in a few minutes.”
1215: The pre-Budget banter is already in full effect. Cameron is teed up for an attack on Labour’s decision to sell the nation’s gold, quipping that this decision was influenced by the “two men sat opposite.”
1213: The Labour leader isn’t satisfied with that: the DLA changes are written into the goverment’s welfare White Paper, he says. David Cameron says that these matters aren’t
decided upon, but are all part of a review — and that the mobility component will be accounted for in the reformed system. The exchange repeats itself for Miliband’s last question.
1212: Miliband’s back, and he begins with an attack that Ed Balls was sniffing around yesterday: why is the government removing the mobility component of the disability living allowance?
Cameron’s reply is blunt: “We’re not”.
1211: Cheers from all sides as Cameron takes a lighthearted swipe at IPSA.
1210: Miliband has sat down, saving three more questions for later in the session.
1208: Still Libya, yet Miliband’s latest question has more bite than the others: is Gaddafi a target? Despite welcoming the opportunity to “set the record straight”, Cameron’s response is not especially clear. “We will comply with the UN resolution,” he says, but adds that he won’t give a “running commentary” on what is a target and what is not.
1207: Miliband continues the sober line of questioning, asking for clarification on the Arab League’s stance. Cameron says that “support in the Arab world, not just among Arab leaders, for saving lives in Libya is very strong.”
1205: Ed Miliband uses his first question to ask for an update on the Libya situation. Cameron duly obliges. He adds that Gaddafi’s claims of a ceasefire were “clearly nonsense.”
1203: Jo Swinson asks, somewhat leadingly, whether Fukushima will have consequences for nuclear power in the UK. Cameron again says that any lessons will be learnt, but emphasises that “we are not in an earthquake zone.” This could be an area of difference between the Tories in Lib Dems in months to come.
1200: A PMQs that is merely a prelude to something altogether more important, today. Cameron leads off in the traditional manner — with condolences for the fallen and their famiies — before taking the first question on our defence capabilities. “We should be able to deploy at speed, to anywhere in the word, with our armed forces — but if there are lessons to be learnt, we will make sure we learn them,” he reassures.
Stay tuned for live coverage from 1200.
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