The main points from PM's questions and Gordon Brown's legislative programme for next year:
The main points from prime minister's questions in the House of Commons:
DRAFT LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME
Mr Brown said the government had an "ambitious programme" to turn around failings schools and that it was important that interest rates stayed low to help the housing market.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said the prime minister had "scraped the legislative barrel to save himself" and that he would have to "do a lot, lot better".
Conservative leader David Cameron welcomed the NHS constitution, more flexible working and the independent exam regulator, saying his party had already proposed them. He asked for "gratitude" from the prime minister. The statement was "another relaunch" for the government and was about the "short-term political survival of the prime minister".
The government would bring in rules for "fair treatment" of agency workers in the UK, Mr Brown said.
The prime minister said people would have more control over local issues, such as planning.
Mr Brown said directly elected representatives would be set up so people could oversee policing, and that police officers would spend more time "on the beat" and less on paperwork.
The prime minister promised a constitution for the NHS, ensuring better patient access and greater rights for patients to details of their care.
Mr Brown said legislation would oblige the unemployed to have theirskills assessed and undertake training, while all Incapacity Benefit claimantswill be required to have a medical and follow a programme designed to help themreturn to work.
Mr Brown said every worker would get the right to request time off to train.
He promised a new education bill to ensure that "no school is under-performing" by 2011 and that parents would get more power to monitor their children's progress. Mr Brown also pledged to make the qualifications system independent.
Mr Brown began by saying the "immediate priority" was to look after family finances. He promised a banking bill and a £200m fund to buy unsold new homes for allocation as social housing.
PRIME MINISTER'S QUESTIONS:
BBC Political Correspondent David Thompson's verdict:
BBC Political Correspondent David Thompson's verdict:
It started off all statesmanlike; David Cameron offering support for the government's attempts to get aid into Burma. But in the wake of the 10p tax climbdown and a week which Gordon Brown would like to forget, but will probably remember for the rest of his life, you knew it could not last .
It started off all statesmanlike; David Cameron offering support for the government's attempts to get aid into Burma. But in the wake of the 10p tax climbdown and a week which Gordon Brown would like to forget, but will probably remember for the rest of his life, you knew it could not last .
The LibDem leader Nick Clegg got stuck in first, finger-jabbing and angry on behalf of the million or so people he claimed would still lose out over the abolition of the 10p tax band.
The LibDem leader Nick Clegg got stuck in first, finger-jabbing and angry on behalf of the million or so people he claimed would still lose out over the abolition of the 10p tax band.
But then it was the main event. David Cameron went for the prime minister on 10p tax, on Caroline Flint's inadvertent disclosure about just how bad things might get for the housing market - and the spat between Labour's leader in Scotland, Wendy Alexander, and her boss in Westminster about whether or not there should be an early referendum on Scottish independence.
But then it was the main event. David Cameron went for the prime minister on 10p tax, on Caroline Flint's inadvertent disclosure about just how bad things might get for the housing market - and the spat between Labour's leader in Scotland, Wendy Alexander, and her boss in Westminster about whether or not there should be an early referendum on Scottish independence.
His attacks had one purpose - to paint Gordon Brown as a man who wasn't straight with the electorate.
His attacks had one purpose - to paint Gordon Brown as a man who wasn't straight with the electorate.
As he put it "a prime minister putting short-term decision in front of the national interest".
As he put it "a prime minister putting short-term decision in front of the national interest".
But despite his recent battering, the Labour leader was in no mood to take lectures from the Leader of the Opposition - and came out fighting.
But despite his recent battering, the Labour leader was in no mood to take lectures from the Leader of the Opposition - and came out fighting.
Reminding the Commons of the times under a Tory government when interest rates were at 15% and repossessions reached all-time highs, he said it was time for the Conservative leader to say what he would do in the current economic climate.
Reminding the Commons of the times under a Tory government when interest rates were at 15% and repossessions reached all-time highs, he said it was time for the Conservative leader to say what he would do in the current economic climate.
Or, as he put it, time for David Cameron to stop being the salesman and start showing some substance.
Or, as he put it, time for David Cameron to stop being the salesman and start showing some substance.
In short, both main party leaders rehearsed their likely lines of attack for the coming year.
In short, both main party leaders rehearsed their likely lines of attack for the coming year.
Anyone would think there was a by-election going on...
Anyone would think there was a by-election going on...
Here are the key points of the Commons exchanges:
Here are the key points of the Commons exchanges:
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The
prime minister ended the half hour session by saying the government wanted to "move forward" on plans for paternity and maternity leave during this parliament.
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Mr
Brown wished Rangers success in the final of the Uefa Cup, which takes place on Wednesday evening.
Mr
Brown said it was in "our interests" to apply pressure on countries who had refused a meeting of the UN Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Burma.
Conservative
leader David Cameron expressed his sympathy for the victims of the earthquake in China. He asked whether "further steps" would be taken to ensure aid to Burma gets through. Mr Cameron urged a "deadline" for the country's government.Mr Brown said it had been turned into a "man-made catastrophe" by the actions of the country's government and that aid had not been "good enough" as a result. Mr Brown said the best way of getting aid to the people was to keep up "pressure" on Burma's government and that other countries had blocked a meeting of the UN Security Council on the issue. He added that there was no "easy answer" in dropping aid by plane. He said nothing was ruled out.
Mr Brown said improving GCSE results showed "progress" in education standards.
Tory Sir Nicholas Winterton said the UK motorist was the "most highly taxed in the world" and asked the PM to review the Budget's proposal to increase vehicle excise duty. Mr Brown said most motorists paid no more duty as a result of the changes.
The prime minister said he would talk about agency workers during his later statement on the government's legislative programme.
Mr Brown, asked whether the "weekly knockabout" of PMQs was a good way to discuss policy, replied: "Yes."
Mr Cameron then raised Mr Brown's response last week to questions about Labour's leader in the Scottish Parliament calling for an early referendum on independence. But Mr Brown said his reply had been correct and said his party wanted to defend the Union.
Mr Cameron asked, in his second set of questions, whether housing minister Caroline Flint had "not been straight with people" over housing market predictions. He asked whether the 10p tax announcement's timing "had anything to do with the by-election" in Crewe and Nantwich. Mr Brown said that 15 years ago, the Tory government had caused the "biggest repossessions in our history." He said the Tories wanted to give money "to those already rich".
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the 10p tax announcement had been a "complete charade" and asked whether it mattered that one million people were still worse off. He said the worst-off had to pay for Mr Brown's "incompetence". Mr Brown said 22 million people were better off and no government had "a better record" of getting people out of poverty.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the 10p tax announcement had been a "complete charade" and asked whether it mattered that one million people were still worse off. He said the worst-off had to pay for Mr Brown's "incompetence". Mr Brown said 22 million people were better off and no government had "a better record" of getting people out of poverty.
Mr Cameron expressed his sympathy for the victims of the earthquake in China. He asked whether "further steps" would be taken to ensure aid to Burma gets through. Mr Cameron urged a "deadline" for the country's government.Mr Brown said it had been turned into a "man-made catastrophe" by the actions of the country's government and that aid had not been "good enough" as a result. Mr Brown said the best way of getting aid to the people was to keep up "pressure" on Burma's government and that other countries had blocked a meeting of the UN Security Council on the issue. He added that there was no "easy answer" in dropping aid by plane. He said nothing was ruled out.
Mr Cameron asked, in his second set of questions, whether housing minister Caroline Flint had "not been straight with people" over housing market predictions. He asked whether the 10p tax announcement's timing "had anything to do with the by-election" in Crewe and Nantwich. Mr Brown said that 15 years ago, the Tory government had caused the "biggest repossessions in our history." He said the Tories wanted to give money "to those already rich".
Mr Brown wished Rangers success in the final of the Uefa Cup, which takes place on Wednesday evening.
Mr Cameron then raised Mr Brown's response last week to questions about Labour's leader in the Scottish Parliament, Wendy Alexander, calling for an early referendum on independence. But Mr Brown said his party wanted to defend the Union.
Mr Brown, asked whether the "weekly knockabout" of PMQs was a good way to discuss policy, replied: "Yes."
Tory Sir Nicholas Winterton said the UK motorist was the "most highly taxed in the world" and asked the PM to review the Budget's proposal to increase vehicle excise duty. Mr Brown said most motorists paid no more duty as a result of the changes.
Mr Brown said improving GCSE results showed "progress" in education standards.
He said it was in "our interests" to apply pressure on countries who had refused a meeting of the UN Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Burma.
The prime minister ended the half-hour session by saying the government wanted to "move forward" on plans for paternity and maternity leave during this parliament.
