David Cameron live webchat, Friday 14th March 3.30-4.30

[JustineMumsnet]

David Cameron is coming back (which is more than we can say for Piers Morgan). The leader of the opposition will be logging on from The Tory party's spring forum in Gateshead this Friday pm, at 3.30. Come along and pose him a question about an issue relevant to you, or if you can't make it on the day, you can post advance questions here.
Best,
MNHQ

Well said Habb.

TO artichokes

THe difference between our policy on parental leave and labour's is as follows. We are both committed to 52 weeks paid maternity leave by the end of the Parliament. They are saying that the mum has to take the first 26 weeks and after that the dad could take over some of the remaining entitlement. We are saying that apart form the first 14 weeks,which the mum must take, the rest could all be used flexibly. Also, we would allow it all to be taken concurrently. Basically we are saying - it is youer 52 week entitlement, share it, use it, flex it in any way you think works for you. Hope that makes sense.

Flexible working law indeed very weak, and at the end of the day, if your right is refused and you believe your employer is being unreasonable, you still have to drag it through a tribunal to get what you need. I left my last job precisely for this reason.

I really want to know how you reconcile the idea of everyone in paid employment with the idea that children need more input and support.

I am a paediatric staff nurse married to a GP and cannot see any shop floor benefits to our service despite 'massive' funds being injected.
As you have a lot of experience with NHS paediatric services,are there any obvious things that you have seen that could be done better?

Tinker - I've just re-read it - may have been well thought, but certainly not well-written!

David, I've got to go and give a piano lesson now, but PLEASE answer my questions!!!

David are you happy with Darling's budget position on non doms (to the extent we can make it out)? If not what would you do differently? And considering that all of the non-doms pay taxes on UK income (vast amounts, actually) why was any change needed at all?

How do you attract voters who don't want choice? I don't want to have to shop around for my gas and electricty; I want a state owned supplier. I don't want choice in schools; I want them all to be state schools and good. I hate all buses being horrid different colours; I want them all to be state run and efficient and reliable and nice shade of bright red. What are you going to do about people like me with choice fatigue?

Dave, my mum (73) says will the Tories raise the basic state pension for those who didn't work as they were raising children (women pensioners) and who are now living in poverty in their old age. She used to vote conservative but now says she wont vote as she thinks politicians have no idea what its like to be elderly, ill and living on £109 a week.

I was just wondering if you'd have time to answer any of the questions asked about the family courts and associated issues.

oh I agree Tinker.
How is it helpful being able to choose between 4 different hospitals to get your hip replaced, when all you want is for your nearest hospital to do it efficiently and well and not to kill you with MRSA in the process?

Dave what do you think to a compulsory activity after school for all children after school for at least once a week. It could be sports,drama,music,dance,cooking whatever just something that allowed kids to try different things and find a passion. They could be manned by volunteers and people serving community service (not for violent or sexual crimes etc!)I think as a country we should stop sitting on our arses complaining about "the youth of today" and start fixing it.

David - I like your reply about sharing maternity / paternity leave equally between parents as this is the only way to get fathers to spend more time with their children and to start to adress the gender pay gap which is shocking and largely due to women having time off to care for children. How will you persuade small businesses that it is a good and workable idea?

Wildwoman that is a really good idea!

Is there a feasible argument against replacing ASBO' with national service?

Oh, yes, second Peahead and Tinker - choice is sold as the Holy Grail of public services, but most people don't WANT these choices - just good local services that are reasonably accessible.

Like that idea too binkleandflip!

well, I challenge Dave to come round to our disabled children's group and see what life is really like for those on income support, caring 24 hours a day and tell us how conservatives will improve our lot. Especially as Labour introduced child tax credits which are fab and something tories never did.
Its at Hop Skip and Jump in bristol and we do have cake and biscuits. But we have articulate women caring 24 hours a day, mainly in poverty, and not be listenned too by anyone 'in power'. Roger Berry MP came and gave usual non-answers.

to Jinglyjen - I don't back compulsory voting. it is a right - and should be seen as an obligation, but I don't think we can make not voting a crime. nWe need to inspire people that change is possible, rather than force them at the point of law to vote for us ( or not)

To Ronsher - On school choice. Of course what we all want is a good local school, but I think that an element of choice and competition is a good way to help get it. Ask yourself: Why is it so difficult to set up a new school in the state sector? Why should so much of the innovation be in the private sector? We have plans to make the provision of new schools much easier.

To Lilibet - you ask how this works. I am sitting here, having not read the questions in advance, typing out my answers, not dictating them to a minnion or having them vetted by anyone else. I will, when I have run out of time, ask my office to post some more answers, particularly to some of the factual questions. Hope this helps.

Could we just stop asking questions for a mo & get some answers for the ones posted before 3.30 as it's obvious the poor man is not going to get all questions answered before 4.30??!

I'm impressed Dave, proper politician, getting in there!

thank you David

I never thought you had a minion!!

but I didn't ask how I asked "Would you please let me know if you are in agreement with the current system of National Insurance contributions and if not what are your government going to do to rectify it?"

I will await your reply with interest.

oh dear, my mum is joining mumsnet right now so she can ask a question
be very afraid