Prime Minister's Questions: David Cameron v Ed Miliband

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of prime minister's questions. The Commons session starts at noon. In the meantime we'll be staying across the Daily Politics, where Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne and and Labour's Michael Dugher are discussing the work experience scheme controversy.

Ministers are meeting dozens of firms involved in the various unpaid work placement schemes - which critics have described as "slave labour". Michael Bradley, who's involved in the Right to Work campaign protesting against the schemes, defends the tactic of occupying stores to make their point. He says if there had been no occupation - there would now be no "crisis meeting" with firms. He says the protests have been peaceful - part of a long tradition going back to the suffragettes.

Onto some controversial comments from union chief Len McCluskey earlier - who has suggested the Olympics could be hit by industrial action over spending cuts. For Labour, Michael Dugher says his party has made its position clear - the comments are "unacceptable".

There are a few brief words murmured between Mr Dugher, whose party benefits from trade union funding, and Mr Browne, whose party took a donation from fraudster Michael Brown. Mr Dugher says Labour gets accused of being in the pockets of the unions when they agree with them, and when they disagree with them.

Lib Dem minister Mr Browne suggests the Labour Party and Unite want to "sabotage" the Olympics - Mr Dugher says he won't apologise for Labour's links with the unions, but is perfectly happy to disagree with Mr McCluskey on this one.

Daily Politics takes a look at the Lib Dem/Tory tensions over the NHS bill, Lords reform and the European Convention on Human Rights. Conservative Philip Davies and Lib Dem Andrew George take questions outside Parliament. Mr Davies says Mr Clegg should be supporting the government - the critics sit on the backbenches. The deputy PM "can't have it both ways", he says.

Mr George says the coalition is in "unchartered waters" and it was "great" to have debates in the open rather than behind the cabinet's closed doors. He asks whether collective responsibility is really that important - to the apparent amusement of his Conservative colleague Mr Davies.

Should there be joint coalition candidates at the next election? There's a resounding "no" from both Mr George and Mr Davies.

Over in the Commons, Cheryl Gillan is taking questions about Wales. Still a lot of space on the green benches - nine minutes to go.

Did the Lib Dems do a deal with the Tories over boundary changes? There was a suggestion on the Sunday Politics that Lords reform - a Lib Dem passion - was put on the table because of the boundary changes issue. But wasn't it the case that the AV referendum was offered in return for the boundary changes? Lib Dem Jeremy Browne says he supports the boundary changes in their own right. Nick Boles, for the Tories, suggests Lib Dem Lord Oakshott, who raised the issue on Sunday, is a "licensed grenade thrower" for the party.

The Commons is filling up - Commons leader Sir George Young has taken his seat on the front bench. Nick Clegg's there too - sporting what looks like a pink tie.

BBC political editor Nick Robinson suspects the health bill will come up for the fourth PM's questions in a row. The Conservatives will be mentioning Len McCluskey a lot after his Olympics comments he says. He says Len is a man "with a lively turn of phrase" but Ed Miliband might be wishing he'd think a bit more carefully before speaking.

The PM's on his feet. First question from Labour's Andy Slaughter on tax credits.

Asked whether the government had misled the government - the PM loses no opportunity to talk about taking people out of paying tax - and uses it to have a dig at Labour's mayoral candidate for London, Ken Livingstone.

A question about Ireland's decision to hold a referendum on the fiscal union EU treaty from Tory Mark Reckless - Mr Cameron repeats his words that it's Ireland's choice.

Ed Miliband raises allegations about "widespread corrupt behaviour" by the press and police made at the Leveson inquiry - and says they must be got to the bottom of. There's a rare note of agreement from the PM.

Mr Miliband says Education Secretary Michael Gove - a former journalist - was wrong to say the inquiry was having a chilling effect on freedom of expression. The PM says Mr Gove and the cabinet fully support the inquiry.

Mr Miliband presses on with his criticism of Michael Gove, who looks on from the front bench. The Labour leader then goes on to quote Lord Crisp, former NHS chief executive, who told the BBC on Sunday the NHS Bill was "a mess".

Mr Cameron says Mr Gove was saying it was important for politicians - who benefit from the press when they are less "hard hitting" - to say they support a "vibrant, free, robust press"

Ed Miliband goes on the Leveson inquiry - perhaps trying to resurrect his popular - but at the time risky - stance against News International last year.

Mr Cameron is ready for the NHS question and quotes back Mr Miliband's words to him about NHS reform. He again suggests - as he did last week - that Labour is against money going into the NHS and had gone back on support for competition and choice. The Labour leader says that did not answer his question.

Some in Labour's ranks believe it's time to reach a truce with the Murdoch press -especially if the new Sunday title is a success. So far, the party's leadership show no signs of doing so.

For the past month Ed Miliband has picked at the NHS sore - with success, although Labour is still not pulling clear in the polls.

Is Andrew Lansley in the House? Mr Miliband suggests he's not as he continues his attack on plans for the NHS on England - he goes on to quote a clinical commissioning group which has expressed doubts about the reforms.

Mr Cameron hits back with his own quotes from former Labour heavy hitters on competition in the NHS - including Lord Hutton and Lord Darzi.

That case raised by Mr Miliband was raised with the health secretary by Labour MP Rushanara Ali yesterday - Labour believe a denunciation of the reforms by one of their GP pioneers is even stronger than repeating the concerns of medical groups which have always been sceptical

Mr Miliband says the reason 95% of GPs are implementing part of the proposals is because they have been "imposed" on them - and goes on to quote Sam Everington - whose commissioning group is now calling for the bill to be scrapped. He asks the PM for a list of high profile groups supporting the bill - there are shouts from Labour as Mr Cameron ignores that request in his answer.

Mr Cameron has his own figures on the low percentages of various professions surveyed who say they oppose the Bill. The Tory benches go wild as the PM has a dig about the percentage of Labour Party members who voted for Mr Miliband. The Labour leader adds that Nick Clegg should not be "smirking" as he has "no idea" if he supports or opposes the Bill. "Oh! He supports it!" he adds.

We get into a PM's questions staple as a list is then read out by Mr Miliband - as his MPs chant "oppose" after each group opposing the NHS bill is named. Mr Cameron hits back with his own list of NHS bill supporters - including Labour's Lord Darzi. He suggests "we all know" what Mr Miliband is against and he should "tell us what on earth he's for".

Widespread mirth when the PM is asked which medical groups support the health bill but he counters with a jab at Labour's union links on a day when Unite's leader raised the prospect of industrial action during the olympics

After another question on tax credits from Labour's Tony Lloyd there comes the much-anticipated Conservative question about Len McCluskey from MP Richard Graham.

Mr Cameron is ready for it - he quotes the Unite general secretary and points out that the union is the "single biggest donor" to Labour. He says they need to "condemn" the words - Mr Miliband looks less than impressed.

Labour's Luciana Berger uses her question to repeat one of the party's favourite attack lines - that the PM has broken promises to the electorate.

The mention of Len McClusky allows the PM the opportunity to point out Unite was instrumental in getting Ed, not David, Miliband elected as Labour leader.

A Conservative MP asks a question about the cap on migrant workers and whether the Conservative policy will fall victim to Nick Clegg - the PM defends his Lib Dem deputy and says the MP is being a bit unfair. The rules were designed to ensure business did not lose out from the new immigration caps, he says.

The PM says he was unaware of any "irregularities" about Emma Harrison - who stepped down as both the boss of welfare-to-work firm A4e and as the government's family champion - when she was appointed to the government role. He points out she was given a CBE by the previous Labour government.

Conservative Sarah Wollaston pays tribute to journalist Paul Conroy, injured in Syria - the PM is happy to echo her praise and says many of those who worked to get Mr Conroy out had done so bravely and paid a "high price".

Onto credit easing for businesses - how many firms have been helped? Laughter from Labour as the PM says it was always said it would be in place by the Budget in March - and that is what would happen.

Stewart Jackson's question on immigration displays the frustration of many Conservative backbenchers that too much is being conceded to the junior coalition partners and condemns the "curse of Clegg"

The DUP's Nigel Dodds points out that, according to news reports, the "happiest people live in Northern Ireland". Some cruel MPs shout out that the MP should "smile". He turns it into a question about fuel tax rises. The PM says he's delighted to hear the news about happiness but notes the DUP MPs don't always give that impression - this gets a big laugh from Mr Dodds.

Conservative Mike Freer also has a go at Ken Livingstone over his tax affairs following a story last week - the former London mayor is going up against Conservative incumbent Boris Johnson in May's election.

Julie Hilling raises the "broken promises" line again with a reference to tax and benefit changes she says will hit families with children. The PM says it's interesting she did not mention she was sponsored by Len McCluskey's Unite union - judging by Ms Hilling's rather annoyed reaction, she's not.

The PM defends the various work experience schemes that have hit the headlines recently - he says Britain needs to stand up against the "Trotskyites of the Right to Work Campaign". The government has been keen to pin protests on what they say are a small number of left-wing activists.

Lib Dem Sir Robert Smith presses Mr Cameron to implement a coalition agreement to raise the income tax threshold to \u00a310,000 as quickly as possible - Mr Cameron says it is a good idea to lift people out of tax, but no specific commitments for next month's Budget.

Conservative MP David Morris raises the issue of a constituent's death - he accuses management failures at an NHS trust which he says needs to be "turned around". The Health Secretary has met local MPs on the issue - it is being turned around but needs to be done so with "all speed", he says.

Michael Connarty, for Labour, says widows and widowers will be hit by the proposed "bedroom tax" - a welfare policy to dock payments to those in council or social housing considered too big for their needs. Mr Cameron says housing benefit needs to be reformed and he is "getting frustrated" with Labour's "statements in principle" of reform - but then opposition to specific measures.

Labour's Gerald Kaufman asks about the Visa entry clearance in Abu Dhabi - he says a women has been refused entry to attend her granddaughter's wedding. He asks the PM to overrule the "barmy" decision to let her attend. Speaker John Bercow cuts him short as the question rather rambles on. Mr Cameron says he was not aware of the individual case but tough controls are needed. he suggests Mr Kaufman takes it up with immigration minister Damian Green.

Some groans as Tory Peter Bone stands up? It's another question about who takes over if Mr Cameron is "incapacitated". He doesn't appear keen on the idea of Lib Dem Nick Clegg stepping in. The PM says he has "no plans to be incapacitated".

The session is overrunning again - Bob Blackman gets the last question. The Conservative MP raises the issue of the benefit cap and Labour's apparent opposition to it. Mr Cameron says he's glad that today is the day that the bill becomes law - and says the cap is backed by most people. Labour has said it supports it in principle but wanted local caps - not one flat rate cap.

Julie Hilling raises a point of order - she says she is not sponsored by Unite. Very unusually the PM returns to the despatch box to answer her point - he says she had registered a donation from Unite as had her constituency party in 2010.

Speaker John Bercow says whether the Labour MP is sponsored by Unite or not - raising his voice as Labour MPs shout out "she's not" - there's nothing wrong in "our arrangements" with being sponsored by a union so it is "not, repeat not" a point of order for him to rule upon. Some laughter as Mr Bercow asks a "junior government whip" to be quiet, then points out the MP has corrected him saying he is a "senior" whip.

MPs start to file out as Conservative MP Robert Halfon asks another point of order about charging people to visit the Clock Tower at the Commons.

Overall, another confident performance from Ed Miliband but once again his questions remain deep in his own comfort zone - on press regulation and on health, where he had ammunition with yet more medics questioning the reforms. Labour is less trusted on the economy and he will have try to occupy riskier territory in the weeks ahead. The PM had a list of supporters of his health reforms ready - but seemed to enjoy the rest of PMQs rather more, with an opportunity elsewhere to attack Labour's trade union links and the 'trotskyist' opponents of the work experience programmes.

On the Daily Politics Nick Robinson says he's noticed that there's a sneering comment from the Tory backbenchers about Nick Clegg every week at PM's questions. This week it was the "curse of Clegg" from Stewart Jackson.

Peter Bone's question about who takes over if Mr Cameron is incapacitated is a regular feature from the Tory backbencher. Nick Robinson says there is a procedure in place for who takes certain decisions - apparently illustrated in an episode of Spooks.

Nick Robinson says the reality is that the Conservatives would want William Hague to take over. Lib Dem minister Jeremy Browne says the deputy PM "deputises for the PM, as the name suggests" but you would expect someone from the larger coalition party to take over in those circumstances.

Jeremy Browne says there's been lots of predictions that the coalition would collapse that have not come to pass - he says a lot of people have a "vested interest" in the coalition failing. Of course they don't agree on everything - but they are working together in the national interest, he says.

Foreign Office minister Mr Browne adds that he wants the UK to have "cordial relations" with Argentina - which is apparently calling for a UK import ban.

English Democrats' Robin Tilbrook is on the show, saying there is growing English resentment over devolution - his party wants England to have its own Parliament. You can watch the video in full here. In the studio he says the publicity surrounding Scottish independence has helped his cause by focusing attention on the issue.

We're going to wrap up our text coverage here but you can continue to watch events in the Commons - including the debate on the EU fiscal treaty - on Democracy Live. Thanks for joining us - we'll be back next week.