The main points from prime minister's questions on Wednesday, 2 April, from 1200 GMT:
The main points from prime minister's questions on Wednesday, 2 April, from 1200 GMT:
Leader of the House of Commons Harriet Harman took questions in place of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is at a Nato summit in Romania.
Leader of the House of Commons Harriet Harman took questions in place of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is at a Nato summit in Romania.
Ms Harman sent her condolences to the family of two servicemen, Lt John Thornton and Marine David Marsh, who were killed in Afghanistan.
Ms Harman sent her condolences to the family of two servicemen, Lt John Thornton and Marine David Marsh, who were killed in Afghanistan.
Answering a question from Eric Joyce (Labour, Falkirk), Ms Harman said Robert Mugabe must respect the decision of the people of Zimbabwe. She told the Commons that Zimbabwe was at a turning point and Britain stood ready to increase aid to the country after a transition of power.
Answering a question from Eric Joyce (Labour, Falkirk), Ms Harman said Robert Mugabe must respect the decision of the people of Zimbabwe. She told the Commons that Zimbabwe was at a turning point and Britain stood ready to increase aid to the country after a transition of power.
Mr Hague, standing in for Tory leader David Cameron, sent his condolences to the family of the dead servicemen. He congratulated Ms Harman on being the first female Labour politician to take prime minister's questions. He added: "She must be proud, three decades on, to be following in the footsteps of Margaret Thatcher."
Mr Hague, standing in for Tory leader David Cameron, sent his condolences to the family of the dead servicemen. He congratulated Ms Harman on being the first female Labour politician to take prime minister's questions. He added: "She must be proud, three decades on, to be following in the footsteps of Margaret Thatcher."
Mr Hague said he wanted to send a signal to the people of Zimbabwe that Britain stood ready to help.
Mr Hague said he wanted to send a signal to the people of Zimbabwe that Britain stood ready to help.
Ms Harman asked why Mr Hague was asking questions and not Theresa May, the shadow leader of the House, asking if modern Tory women "should be seen and not heard".
Ms Harman asked why Mr Hague was asking questions and not Theresa May, the shadow leader of the House, asking if modern Tory women "should be seen and not heard".
She offered Ms May some "sisterly advice", saying she should not let Mr Hague "get away with it".
She offered Ms May some "sisterly advice", saying she should not let Mr Hague "get away with it".
Mr Hague then referred to Ms Harman's difficulties over her decision to wear an anti-stab jacket during a police walkabout this week on the streets of her south London constituency. To laughter from MPs, Mr Hague said: "She has had a difficult week and she had had to explain yesterday that she dresses in accordance with wherever she goes - she wears a helmet to a building site, she wears Indian clothes to Indian parts of her constituency - presumably when she goes to a cabinet meeting she dresses as a clown."
Mr Hague then referred to Ms Harman's difficulties over her decision to wear an anti-stab jacket during a police walkabout this week on the streets of her south London constituency. To laughter from MPs, Mr Hague said: "She has had a difficult week and she had had to explain yesterday that she dresses in accordance with wherever she goes - she wears a helmet to a building site, she wears Indian clothes to Indian parts of her constituency - presumably when she goes to a cabinet meeting she dresses as a clown."
Ms Harman said she would not take advice on what to wear from Mr Hague, referring to his famous decision to wear a baseball cap when he was in the early days of his time as Conservative leader.
Ms Harman said she would not take advice on what to wear from Mr Hague, referring to his famous decision to wear a baseball cap when he was in the early days of his time as Conservative leader.
Mr Hague said five million lower paid families would be worse off after Budget changes to income tax. He said that after a meeting with Labour MPs, who expressed concern about the issue, one said Mr Brown "didn't seem to understand that they were talking about" and gave the impression "that he was living on another planet". He then quoted Ms Harman's blog, in which she said people were not worried about their future economic prospects.
Mr Hague said five million lower paid families would be worse off after Budget changes to income tax. He said that after a meeting with Labour MPs, who expressed concern about the issue, one said Mr Brown "didn't seem to understand that they were talking about" and gave the impression "that he was living on another planet". He then quoted Ms Harman's blog, in which she said people were not worried about their future economic prospects.
Ms Harman said she wrote her "Harriet on the High Street" blog after speaking to people in Edinburgh, before recent global economic turbulence. She said the government had since responded to people's concerns and reassured people that it was acting to provide economic stability and employment opportunities. She said the economy was still growing, albeit at a slower rate.
Ms Harman said she wrote her "Harriet on the High Street" blog after speaking to people in Edinburgh, before recent global economic turbulence. She said the government had since responded to people's concerns and reassured people that it was acting to provide economic stability and employment opportunities. She said the economy was still growing, albeit at a slower rate.
She then took a swipe at Mr Hague, saying: "Normally people used to say great jokes, poor judgement but on today's performance he should be worried about his career as an after-dinner speaker."
She then took a swipe at Mr Hague, saying: "Normally people used to say great jokes, poor judgement but on today's performance he should be worried about his career as an after-dinner speaker."
Mr Hague hit back by saying he would never accuse Ms Harman of being "all jokes". He said the government had become "out of touch" and he asked why voters had to wait two years to "get rid of this discredited cabinet and get a chance of government".
Mr Hague hit back by saying he would never accuse Ms Harman of being "all jokes". He said the government had become "out of touch" and he asked why voters had to wait two years to "get rid of this discredited cabinet and get a chance of government".
Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable rose to loud cheers from MPs - but his appearance was cut short after the first of his two permitted questions was ruled out of order by Speaker Michael Martin.
Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable rose to loud cheers from MPs - but his appearance was cut short after the first of his two permitted questions was ruled out of order by Speaker Michael Martin.
Mr Cable asked if the Queen was guilty of over-reacting or whether she had captured the public mood by cancelling her Diamond Wedding party on the grounds it would not be appropriate to stage lavish celebrations amid public concern about the economy.
Mr Cable asked if the Queen was guilty of over-reacting or whether she had captured the public mood by cancelling her Diamond Wedding party on the grounds it would not be appropriate to stage lavish celebrations amid public concern about the economy.
Mr Martin stepped in to warn Mr Cable that under Commons rules he could not discuss Her Majesty the Queen. He said the Lib Dem leader had to ask another question, telling him he had already used one of his two questions.
Mr Martin stepped in to warn Mr Cable that under Commons rules he could not discuss Her Majesty the Queen. He said the Lib Dem leader had to ask another question, telling him he had already used one of his two questions.
Mr Cable said he was happy to ask a question about economic gloom.
Mr Cable said he was happy to ask a question about economic gloom.
Ms Harman said her concern was that people continued to have jobs and ensure continued economic growth.
Ms Harman said her concern was that people continued to have jobs and ensure continued economic growth.
Angus Robertson (SNP, Moray) asked about funding for more prison places in Scotland. Ms Harman said the Secretary of State for Scotland would write to Mr Robertson.
Angus Robertson (SNP, Moray) asked about funding for more prison places in Scotland. Ms Harman said the Secretary of State for Scotland would write to Mr Robertson.
Derek Wyatt (Labour, Sittingbourne and Sheppey) asked about immigration officials clearing customers out of Bangladeshi restaurants at "critical" times on a Friday and Saturday, harming their business. Ms Harman said the Bangladeshi Catering Association had already made representations to her on this issue.
Derek Wyatt (Labour, Sittingbourne and Sheppey) asked about immigration officials clearing customers out of Bangladeshi restaurants at "critical" times on a Friday and Saturday, harming their business. Ms Harman said the Bangladeshi Catering Association had already made representations to her on this issue.
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Rob
Wilson (Conservative, Reading East) called on Ms Harman to condemn a BNP candidate in the forthcoming London Assembly elections who reportedly wrote in a blog: "To suggest that rape is a serious crime is like suggesting that force feeding women chocolate cake is a heinous offence", saying he should be barred from public office.
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Charles
Walker (Conservative, Broxbourne) called on Ms Harman to condemn a BNP candidate in the forthcoming London Assembly elections who reportedly wrote in a blog: "To suggest that rape is a serious crime is like suggesting that force feeding women chocolate cake is a heinous offence", saying he should be barred from public office.
Ms Harman said the "best way to avoid a BNP member being elected to the Greater London Assembly is to make sure as many people as possible vote for all the other parties".
Ms Harman said the "best way to avoid a BNP member being elected to the Greater London Assembly is to make sure as many people as possible vote for all the other parties".
John Baron (Conservative, Billericay) asked what is "so unique about the British" that they needed to detain suspects without charge for more than a week, as was the case in other countries.
John Baron (Conservative, Billericay) asked what is "so unique about the British" that they needed to detain suspects without charge for more than a week, as was the case in other countries.
Ms Harman said it was an unfair comparison. She said she found it "odd" that the Conservatives, who were she "purports to be strong on public protection", would not support government plans to extend detention. She asked how they could be concerned about human rights, yet want to abolish Labour's Human Rights Act.
Ms Harman said it was an unfair comparison. She said she found it "odd" that the Conservatives, who were she "purports to be strong on public protection", would not support government plans to extend detention. She asked how they could be concerned about human rights, yet want to abolish Labour's Human Rights Act.
Sharon Hodgson (Labour, Gateshead East and Washington West) called on the government to back her campaign for free school dinners using locally-sourced produce.
Sharon Hodgson (Labour, Gateshead East and Washington West) called on the government to back her campaign for free school dinners using locally-sourced produce.
