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ePolitix.com reports on this week's session of prime minister's question time.
Edward Garnier (Con, Harborough) said City minister Lord Myners had been given 24 hours to work on a defence of his select committee evidence. He sought clarification on what the minister had told the MPs about his involvement in the pension for former RBS chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin.
The prime minister replied that Garnier had "risen to the occasion". Gordon Brown said Lord Myners was led to believe that the pension details were a contractual arrangement rather than an option. The UK could back legal action at the RBS annual general meeting, he confirmed.
Stephen Hepburn (Lab, Jarrow) spoke about the plight of those exposed to asbestos. He urged the prime minister to take action on pleural plaques sufferers who were "robbed of compensation" by legal decisions.
The prime minister said that it was right that the government looks again at the issue. He agreed that asbestos sufferers "deserve the best of help" from public authorities and told MPs that the justice secretary will make a statement after Easter.
Gisela Stuart (Lab, Birmingham Edgbaston) asked the prime minister to speak to Russian colleagues at the G20 meeting about their approach to human rights, noting that the Stalin archives came close to destruction.
Brown agreed to remind Russia's President Medvedev about the issues. He admitted that there had been "differences" between Russian and Britain but said the UK was still looking to "work with Russia", especially on the non-proliferation treaty.
David Winnick (Lab, Walsall North) highlighted a private members' bill which had sought to introduce an exemption of the House of Commons from freedom of information requests. Winnick stated that the public should have "confidence" in MPs' allowances.
"We want a better system that has proper audit," Brown replied. He stated that it is "not enough for one or two of us to get together in a room", saying that was why it is right for the Committee on Standards in Public Life to examine the issue of Commons expenses.
Paul Rowen (Lib Dem, Rochdale) highlighted the plight of the Christie Hospital which lost money in the Icelandic banking collapses. He inquired what the prime minister is doing to help the hospital get its money back.
The prime minister praised the hospital as "world class". He agreed to meet with officials on the issues raised and to "look and see what we can do". But he warned that the government was only able to guarantee deposits for banks that are regulated in Britain.
Denis Murphy (Lab, Wansbeck) praised a firm in his constituency for leading the way on carbon capture. He asked the prime minister to share the success of the business with his G20 colleagues.
Brown said that he would be "happy" to visit the constituency. "This is an area where we can lead the world", he stated. And the premier suggested that Britain should work with the Norwegians who already have a carbon capture plant.
David Heathcoat-Amory (Con, Wells) criticised Brown for the decision he took as chancellor to sell 395 tonnes of gold from the UK reserves. He suggested that the gold was now worth four times more than when Brown made the sales. The MP called on the prime minister to apologise for the "enormous losses".
"I hesitate to say this but this was a sale agreed with banks around the world," Brown replied. He stated that at the time banks had wanted to diversify away from gold. Instead, the government bought euros, which have gone up in value, he said.
Karen Buck (Lab, Regent's Park and Kensington North) warned that an elderly cancer patient in her constituency was being taken to court for owing £390 in unpaid mortgage arrears. She called for more support for vulnerable people.
The prime minister agreed to look at the matter, adding that an elderly cancer patient should not be evicted. The government has already made greater provision available for housing, Brown said.
Mark Hunter (Lib Dem, Cheadle) asked about community policing and said it should be extended around the country.
The prime minister said neighbourhood policing has already been extended across England so the public could see local police officers on the beat. He insisted that the government is "ready to invest in the police".
Tony Lloyd (Lab, Manchester Central) spoke of the damage done by rising unemployment. The MP called for a focus at the G20 and in the Budget on getting people back into work.
Brown said that new help and training for those without work would be delivered, with "substantial sums of money" to help those who need it.
Alistair Burt (Con, North East Bedfordshire) said the government's working capital scheme to improve bank lending "has so far not produced anything".
Responding, the prime minister said that £1bn had been agreed already. And, he added, 100,000 companies will be receiving help worth around £1.8bn in total.
Laura Moffatt (Lab, Crawley) welcomed the fact that cancer-related prescriptions are now free for all who need them. She also urged improvements in radiotherapy capacity in her constituency.
The prime minister said the government would look to improve health services in her constituency. And he said that offering free drugs for cancer patients was "a substantial step forward".
Nadine Dorries (Con, Mid Bedfordshire) said that it was not "brain surgery" to ensure that hospitals are clean. She warned that spin and targets were undermining medical priorities and harming patient care.
Brown said it was essential to have targets as they ensure faster treatment for patients. The government would not back away from them, he added.
Eric Joyce (Lab, Falkirk) noted that it was 10 years since the national minimum wage was introduced. He said it had helped millions of working people.
The prime minister said that it was "an important element in giving people decent wages in the workplace", adding that the minimum wage is needed by a "civilised society".
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