PRIME MINISTER'S QUESTIONS

SCORING THE EXCHANGES

John

Major

5/10

The two leaders agreed on almost

everything. Blair's questions seemed

designed to impale Major on his weekend interview. The Prime Minister could

hardly repudiate it.

Tony Blair

4/10

Blair observed that the Conservative front bench had more in common with Labour on Europe than they had with the Euro-sceptics. It should have been a draw, but he loses a point for his predictable `if-they-can't-be-trusted-to-run-themselves-how-can-they- be- trusted-to-run this country?'

THEMES OF THE DAY

Conservative minority government (Archie Kirkwood L. Dem.

Roxburgh and Berwickshire; Dr Lynne Jones Lab, Birmingham

Selly Oak)

Violence on TV (Michael Alison, C. Selby)

Grammar schools (Teddy Taylor, C. Southend E)

Recent MORI poll on Europe (Teresa Gorman, C. Billericay)

BLAIR'S ATTACK

Blair began by asking whether Major agreed with Sir Leon

Brittan that Conservative divisions were weakening Britain's

position in Europe. Major agreed that when the Commons was divided on any issue, any negotiating position was weakened. He added that Socialist governments in Europe were waiting to take advantage of a Labour government after the election.

Major appeared to be giving credence to the idea of a Labour victory.

GOOD DAY.. ...BAD DAY

Sir Teddy Taylor - With Euro-scepticism to the fore again, he staggered everyone by asking a question about something completely different - grammar schools.

Archie Kirkwood - Faced with the delightful potential of first question on next week's minority government, Mr Kirkwood became too excited and asked a halting 90-worder.

QUIP OF THE DAY

What looked like a Speaker's jest - no sooner had

Major declared "the splits on that side of the House are seismic" and sat down, Betty Boothroyd called out "Mrs Gorman". The Member for Billericay stood up to personify the Tory rift.

UNANSWERED QUESTION

On Budget changes to war-pension administration: "Will the Prime Minister confirm that civil servants estimate that over and above any administrative changes, 16,000 war pensioners will lose out as a result of those changes?" Mr Major was not specific, but replied with a blanket denial that there would be any losers.

CREEP OF THE DAY

Nigel Evans (C. Ribble Valley) made the day's obligatory "my constituency is lovely, Labour wants to ruin it" statement. "My Right Hon friend will know, because he has visited the Ribble Valley, that it is a beautiful part of England . . ." he began. The question did not improve in the asking.