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Miners' Compensation

Q2. [56628] John Mann (Bassetlaw) (Lab): On how many occasions solicitors' costs have been partially refused due to breach of regulation 4 of the conditional fee regulations for miners' hearing loss claims to Government.

The Prime Minister: I cannot tell my hon. Friend on exactly how many occasions solicitors' costs have been partially refused due to breach of regulation 4, but we have been able to save substantial sums of money by making sure the regulation is implemented.

John Mann: There is a feeding frenzy over miners' and textile workers' deafness claims, which is even worse than the previous double charging scandal—in this case, with up to six unnecessary deductions by solicitors and the Union of Democratic Mineworkers. As Capita tells me that the Government have rightly refused to pay solicitors' costs in over 1,000 of these cases, will the Prime Minister ask the Lord Chancellor to sort out with the Law Society and with Cabinet colleagues how best to claw back costs in every one of those cases, and how to ensure that money wrongly deducted is returned to miners and textile workers?

The Prime Minister: In respect of the particular point that my hon. Friend makes, I understand that the issue is being considered by the courts in an appeal due to be heard on 19 June. The general point that my hon. Friend makes is right. That is why my hon. Friend the Minister for Energy has worked with the Law Society to see that solicitors who have unfairly taken a proportion of miners' compensation repay the money. Many have returned payments and the Law Society has again recently urged those who have not to do so. I know, however, that my hon. Friend would agree that over the past few years, the amount of money that we have managed to pay out to former miners has been enormous—about £3 billion, and it is one way that the Labour Government have been able to repay the debt of gratitude to those people who have worked in such difficult and dangerous conditions for so long in order to supply the country's energy needs.

Engagements

Q3. [56629] Mr. David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con): Will the Prime Minister empathise and sympathise with my constituents, who are constantly battling against applications to site mobile phone masts in their streets, outside their houses and outside schools?
 
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If he is sympathetic, why did his Government kill the Bill on Friday last, which would have helped to deal with the matter?

The Prime Minister: There must be a balance between people's objectives and making sure that we get the facilities that we need. We constantly keep under review the issue as to whether those are safe or not. As far as I am aware, the evidence points clearly and surely to the fact that they are.

Iraq

Q4. [56630] Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead) (Lab): What action is being taken by UK forces in Iraq to end the activities of death squads associated with the Ministry of the Interior or others in authority; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister: We are working with the Iraqi Government at the highest level to investigate all allegations and bring to justice any individuals involved in human rights abuses.

Harry Cohen: There were another 18 grisly murders on a minibus this morning. Has the Prime Minister taken into account the comments of John Pace, until recently the UN's head of human rights for Iraq, that most of the killings in Baghdad are carried out by agents of the Ministry of the Interior, and that that Ministry is a rogue element in the Government? General Casey, who is effectively running Iraq, says complacently and perhaps deliberately that this is just a long-term problem. Surely British troops were not sent to fight and die for such death squads' perversion of democracy.

The Prime Minister: No, they certainly were not, but I have to say to my hon. Friend that the very reason why these issues are being investigated is our insistence that they should be investigated—a very different situation from that which obtained under Saddam Hussein, when there was no investigation and it was indeed the policy of the Government to kill, abuse and torture people. My hon. Friend asks why our troops are there; they are there for a very simple reason. They are there under a UN mandate with the consent of the first ever democratically elected Iraqi Government, and they are there to allow the wishes and will of 11 million Iraqis who have voted in an election for the first time to have the democracy that they want. That is why they are there.

Engagements

Q5. [56631] James Brokenshire (Hornchurch) (Con): Rainham in my constituency has been identified as a site to sift, screen and process rubble and other debris in the event of a serious terrorist attack in the capital. While I accept the essential need to have such plans in place, does the Prime Minister recognise that it will not assist the redevelopment and regeneration of this part of the Thames Gateway if this use is retained and that a review is needed?

The Prime Minister: I hope that the hon. Gentleman understands that, for obvious reasons, I do not know about the particular application in his area. I am happy to look into it and I shall correspond with him about it.
 
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Barbara Follett (Stevenage) (Lab): With the United Kingdom currently 51ston the women's representation league table, does my right hon. Friend agree that more needs to be done to get more women into this House, and particularly Labour women? Will he do all that he can to facilitate that?

The Prime Minister: I agree entirely with my hon. Friend. I think that we can be proud of what has been achieved since 1997, particularly on the Labour Benches, with the additional representation of women, but we recognise, as I hope all parties do, that we need to do much more.

Mr. David Cameron (Witney) (Con): The drought in east Africa threatens millions of people with famine and starvation. We welcome the Government's rapid response and the announcement of the extra money that the Minister concerned has made. What does the Prime Minister think are the practical obstacles now standing in the way of getting food and water to those in need?

The Prime Minister: First, it is correct that the UK, I think after the US, is the second largest donor. It is sometimes worth pointing out the contribution that both we and our main ally make to overseas aid. The main obstacles are obviously the difficulties of infrastructure and transport. That is why we are working very hard on making sure that the money that we give is properly used and ordered not just to buy what is necessary, but to facilitate its transport.

Mr. Cameron: The Prime Minister will agree that in Africa, all too often, drought leads to starvation because of the absence of development and the presence of corruption. We must help developing countries to trade their way out of poverty. With that in mind, will it be possible to use the G6 talks this weekend to ensure that trade talks go forward with the needs of Africa at their forefront?

The Prime Minister: They certainly should do. The G6 talks are happening, but we are also honoured and delighted to have in this country for a state visit President Lula of Brazil. Brazil obviously occupies a very important position in the world trade talks, as part of the G20 group of nations. The main area of discussion that I will have with President Lula tomorrow will be whether it is possible to put together a far more ambitious plan for the trade talks. That should obviously include, as it is supposed to be a development round, a specific package for Africa and the very poorest countries, but it would be far easier if that package were located in a general ambitious trade round that took down trade barriers right around the world. That would obviously be of advantage to the poorest African countries, but in addition, it would be of advantage to countries such as Brazil and Britain.

Ms Dawn Butler (Brent, South) (Lab): Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is important that, as today is international women's day, it is firmly marked on the calendar, and that we should ensure that young people are taught about the day, when we should have a celebration? Although more people on the Labour Benches will be part of that celebration, as we have more
 
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women in Parliament, should we not also look forward to the Opposition making sure that there is further gender equality in the House?

The Prime Minister: I am not generally in favour of greater numbers of Conservative MPs, but certainly a greater balance between men and women would be a good idea.

Q6. [56632] Mr. Geoffrey Cox (Torridge and West Devon) (Con): Does the Prime Minister still believe, as he told west country farming communities in the midst of the foot and mouth crisis, that supermarkets have those communities in an arm lock? If he still believes that, does he support yesterday's call by the Federation of Small Businesses for an investigation into the practices of supermarkets by the Competition Commission?

The Prime Minister: I have not had an opportunity to study that recommendation, but I sympathise with the position in which farmers find themselves, which is why we established the code of practice, particularly when they are trying to restructure their own businesses. In meetings in the past few months, we have looked carefully at how we can respond to that concern in a way that is consistent with the interests of consumers, too. The code of practice should be adhered to, and I know that many parts of the farming community believe that it has been broken. We will carefully examine the matter, and if necessary, we will take further action.

Mrs. Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab): Women in my constituency face regular violence from partners who abuse them, and they are often forced into refuges. The Bridgend refuge is in financial crisis, and it needs additional funding to find homes for women and to give women the opportunity to find stability for themselves and their families. Will the Prime Minister look at finding ways to support women who experience violence, so that they are not faced with homelessness or living with fear at home?

The Prime Minister: I cannot comment on the funding of the particular service in my hon. Friend's area, but her general point is absolutely right. We are putting a great deal of money into supporting work on domestic violence, and we have established domestic violence courts. Women are more willing and able to come forward and report domestic violence, and the police and the courts treat such matters much more seriously. As we roll out domestic violence courts across the country, I hope that those benefits will become more widely spread.

Q7. [56633] Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle) (Con): Now that the Prime Minister has used up all mortal excuses for his folly in invading Iraq and is relying on divine guidance, a factor which was oddly omitted from the dodgy dossier, will he tell us which archangel is now beckoning him towards southern Afghanistan?

The Prime Minister: So what is the answer? [Laughter.] I will tell the hon. Gentleman what makes me committed to British troops in Afghanistan. On
 
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11 September, there was the worst terrorist act that the world has ever seen in which 3,000 people died. That terrorist act was done out of Afghanistan, and it was run by al-Qaeda, which was based in Afghanistan and supported by the Taliban. [Interruption.] I am proud of the part that we played in removing the Taliban, and I am proud of the fact that 6 million Afghans got the chance to vote. [Interruption.] Yes; and 12 million Iraqis got that chance, too. I would have thought that everyone, whatever their belief or faith, would stand up for democracy against terrorism.

John Robertson (Glasgow, North-West) (Lab): Is my right hon. Friend as concerned as me about unbalanced reports that misrepresent the energy debate? Does he agree that we need a balanced debate about a balanced energy policy?

The Prime Minister: I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. Although, as he rightly implies, voices have been raised strongly against nuclear power in recent days, many people, including, for example, the Energy Research Centre, believe that it is important that nuclear power is part of the energy mix. We need a clear-sighted debate on the energy security needs of our country in a world in which security of energy supply is becoming increasingly difficult. We also need to take a hard-headed look at not only what we want to happen on greenhouse gas emissions, but what can practically be done in order to reduce them, and we should take the necessary decisions on that basis. As my hon. Friend has said, it is important to recognise that many sensible people who have looked at the issue over a significant period of time believe that nuclear power should be part of the mix.

Q8. [56634] Martin Horwood (Cheltenham) (LD): Given the Government's new-found interest in localism and the fact that children's hospital services in Cheltenham are becoming less local, our ambulance trust less local, our police force less local, our primary care trust less local, our fire control centre less local, our planning powers less local, and even our local authority less local, do the Government have plans to make anything at all in my constituency more local, or are they merely saying one thing and doing the precise opposite?

The Prime Minister: I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman that the police, for example, necessarily become less local if the restructuring of forces is combined with a greater emphasis on community policing. Most people do not regard the police in their area as part of an overall police authority—they look at the local service. Likewise with schools, hospitals or health care services, people look at their local ward and community beyond the structures that politicians often talk about, which often do not mean a great deal to people.

Q9. [56635] Mr. Chris Mullin (Sunderland, South) (Lab): Is my right hon. Friend aware that in Sunderland we have an excellent system of tertiary education which has been painstakingly built up over the past 20 years or so, and that there is a fear that foundation schools will demand their own sixth forms, thereby undermining
 
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what has been achieved? What can he say to reassure City of Sunderland college and others that that will not happen?

The Prime Minister: As I know that my hon. Friend would accept, the provision of education in Sunderland has benefited enormously from what the Government have done over the past few years. The sixth-form college has been a success, too. I very much hope that the proposals in the schools White Paper and the Education and Inspections Bill, far from undermining that success, will assist that process. After all, we have made great progress in our schools in the past eight or nine years. It is important that we build on that, and that is the purpose of the Bill.

Mr. William Cash (Stone) (Con): Does the Prime Minister accept that the picture of the health service that he painted does not apply in my constituency? In the first place, there has been the extraordinary elevation of Sir Nigel Crisp to a peerage for what appears to have been a pretty appalling record. This afternoon, I am seeing all the primary care trust chairmen from Staffordshire. There is uproar about hygiene and cleanliness at Staffordshire general hospital, an £18 million deficit in North Staffordshire, and a deeply unpopular ambulance service merger.

The Prime Minister: What I would say to the hon. Gentleman is that we must have a sense of balance about the picture in the national health service today. Of course there are major challenges—MRSA is one, and the continuing financial deficits another. I think that if he were to talk to the people in the national health service in his area, he would find that they accept that there has none the less been immense progress over the past few years. Many people in his constituency—hundreds of them—used to wait months and months for operations; now, they have maximum waiting times far below anything that we inherited in 1997. There have been huge real-terms increases in funding. In the end, whatever amount of money we put into the national health service there has to be proper financial transparency. The new system that is being introduced is exposing the financial deficits and creating financial
 
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transparencies in the health service. It has to be dealt with, but it is being dealt with in the context of a national health service that is improving year by year.

Q10. [56636] Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Hall Green) (Lab): May I give a general welcome to the proposals to improve youth services? When talking to constituents, I have been struck by how many people favour the idea of some kind of national youth volunteer service. When will that be up and running, and how do I get Hall Green youngsters involved?

The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend is right. As a result of the work of the Russell commission, the charity set up to implement its recommendations will be launched in early May, with the first round of volunteering opportunities becoming available in the summer. We have allocated approximately £100 million for that. It will allow literally thousands of young people to take part in youth volunteering and I believe that that is a good thing. It is not possible to go back to the old days of national service, but it is possible to provide young people with the opportunity to put something back into the community and gain greater experience of different walks and sides of life. The programme will be exciting and I am sure that people in my hon. Friend's constituency and others will take advantage of it.

Mr. Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): Has the Prime Minister seen the front-page story in The   Scotsman today? It carries the allegation that the reason for allowing cover-up and criminality in the presentation of fingerprint evidence in Scotland was to protect the forensic evidence used to secure the Lockerbie conviction. Given that the McKie case has already resulted in a wrongful conviction for murder, nine years of personal anguish for the police officer whose fingerprints were wrongly identified and a cloud of suspicion over the Scottish Criminal Record Office, will the Prime Minister join former Solicitor-Generals, Lord Advocates and every Opposition party in Scotland in calling for an independent judicial inquiry so that justice can be seen to be done?

The Prime Minister: Before I respond to that, I should look carefully at the story on the front page of The Scotsman. I have not seen it.

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