An audit of Iain Duncan Smith's questions to Tony Blair has revealed the full extent of the change in strategy being pursued by the new Tory leader.

According to the survey, Duncan Smith has ditched crime, tax, defence and the single currency as political weapons in the Tory armoury and has instead shifted onto the traditional Labour territory of the NHS and transport.

In a parliament that has seen the introduction of euro notes and coins and predictions of significant tax increases, a "House Magazine" audit of PMQs finds that Duncan Smith has asked just two questions on foreign affairs since he assumed Hague's mantle - with none on Labour's policy on the single currency.

Avoiding issues where the Tories have traditionally held the high ground, Duncan Smith has used the centrepiece of the weekly parliamentary agenda to focus 69 out of 91 questions on the issues of health and transport.

Health

Whilst he has asked 40 questions on health, he has asked just two on foreign affairs, only three on the economy and none specifically on education.

Crime also appears to be losing out under Duncan Smith, who has focussed on the issue in just five questions - compared to 29 on transport.

The new approach is being seen by some as an attempt to bury the ill-fated strategy pursued by William Hague - which focused on defence, crime and the euro.

Climate change

George Osborne, the Tory MP for Tatton, says the shift in emphasis reflects a change in the political climate rather than an admission of failure.

"Iain Duncan Smith has taken a different approach, there is no secret to that. He has said that we have got to be obsessed with the issues that interest people," he said.

"And people out there aren't talking about the euro but they are talking about the state of the health service. By asking health questions week after week he is practising what he preaches."

"It is a different approach but people will have noticed that we did lose the last general election. It would be amazing if hadn't taken a look and said we need to do things differently."

Osborne, a former political secretary to Hague and a behind-the-scenes adviser to Duncan Smith, believes that Europe issue is currently "irrelevant" today.

"By electing Iain Duncan Smith we've dealt with Europe the argument is completely settled in the party now, only a very small minority don't agree with the line on Europe," he said.

"It's irrelevant to what we are doing at the moment. It's a very important issue and most Conservatives feel very strongly about Europe, but we also recognise that its not what people are talking about."