Live! PMQs 12/12/2007

Duchy of Lancaster questions are coming to an end. The Boy Miliband is in place already, so he obviously never made it to Lisbon. Jack Straw reading some notes and basking in the glory of his CommentIsFree piece earlier today. Or not.

Brown is in place. Duchy of Lancaster just rounding up. Labour front bench looking much more relaxed than previous weeks.

12.00 Brown sends condolences to family of Sgt Lee Johnson, killed in Afghanistan. Discusses decision to abolish Defence Export Services Organisation.

12.01 Julian Lewis says Lord Grayson didn't give his approval of the decision, and that's why he quit. Brown says Grayson's still his mate, so there. All rather esoteric, this.

12.03 Ann Clwyd says she's long-campaigned for this reform, and congratulates Brown. Hurrah!

12.05 Tim Loughton on local post offices. Why are they all shutting down? Why is the local government getting no cash? Will he meet my local residents? Why is it so unfair? Brown says you want more money, but your party wants to cut it, so duh!

12.06 Dari Taylor talks about Lee Johnson, her constituent who has died in Afghanistan, and asks for assurances of his family's treatment. Brown endorses what she says, and says there is a duty to soldiers' widows and families.

12.07 Here comes Cammers. What does the PM expect to happen in Kosovo? Brown says it will be discussed this weekend. It's all rather sombre at the moment. Did war break out or something? Cameron says Kosovo needs to be resolved and shouldn't the Nato reserve force to be used as reinforcements? Brown says there are already forces there, and says he believes Serbians can be persuaded to work with the EU.

12.09 Helen Southworth with a plant - government investment leads to innovation in the North West. She had a nice smile on when she was asking.

12.10 Vince Cable, aka Twinkle Toes, asks which disaster of the last six months will haunt Brown over Christmas. Pow! Brown thanks Cable for his appearances. Zonk! As for issues of last six months, Brown claims BIG long-term decisions have been made. Cable says Brown might not want to speculate on leadership elections. Then follows it up with question about women being executed in Iraq for "personal immorality". Brown says Iraq is now a democracy, violence is falling, they can hand over. In other words, he doesn't answer the question.

12.13 Michael Meacher asks if Brown will set up inquiry into governance of UK banking. Brown says: be specific, man! And sell some of your houses! Sort of.

12.15 Michael Fabricant asks if it's fair that police officers earn different amounts. Brown says people want more police and we're going to have to pay for them. Then says inflation is what it's about and hits the Tories with economic competence.

12.15 Madeleine Moon wants Brown to meet people to talk about community arts and sports. As if.

12.16 Cammers again, saying Labour want Blair back. It suddenly gets tasty. Brown accuses him of being trivial. Cammers says Blair thinks Brown's cabinet is "the B team." Brown says Cammers is all about gossip, not substance. He's going well today. Cammers says it's the substance that's going wrong, and that Brown can't decide. Hits him with Lisbon. Brown: you've got nothing to say about policy, fool! Economy, pensions, employment, NHS. Take that! Stability! Living standards! Homeowners!

12.21 Adrian Sanders on collapsed pension schemes. Brown says the Young Report will come soon, £8 billion already pledged, more to come in the next few days.

12.22 David Amess - has the PM been watching The Blair Years? Makes trouble with Blair's claim to have decided on Bank of England independence. So who is responsible for the "terrible shambles"? Brown doesn't rise to the bait.

12.24 Russell Brown on privatisation of local services. Brown says value for money is the test.

12.24 Ann Winterton congratulates the military but says the MoD didn't publicise recent successes. Lots of muttering. What's all this about? Brown says it's for the commanders on the ground to decide on this stuff.

12.25 Helen Jones: no youth club, no public transport, no bus. What can Brown offer them for Christmas? A plant. Brown says youth centres will be a feature of the next few years, and says those who opposed investment in this stuff are against opportunity for all.

12.26 Angus Robertson (SNP) points out police are getting full back pay in Scotland. Brown says the SNP promised 1,000 more police and haven't honoured them.

12.27 Mark Hendrick with a plant - aren't we doing well on C02. Brown: yes we are. Good for us.

12.28 Malcolm Bruce on indigenous British languages, and that sign language gets no support. Wants Brown to meet a sign language delegation. Brown says he will.

12.29 Phil Wilson with another plant - talents of the people! Training! Computers! Jobs! Brown says science investment will treble. 29.4 million employment in Britain now. Vote Labour!

12.29 Brown assures pensioners they'll get their pensions over Christmas. Anyone who says different is wrong. Barbara Keeley with what sounds like a plant - will PM confirm that social care reforms will continue. Brown applauds Keeley, of course, and says his policy is great. We're investing, they're cutting. We're about substance!

And that's it. Brown was much more in the zone today, Cammers had a go but didn't have a killer blow.