Live webchat with David Cameron - this Thursday 19th, 1.45 pm

[JustineMumsnet]

Hello all - David Cameron is coming on to Mumsnet to answer your questions this Thursday at 1.45-2.45. Please post advance questions here if you can't make it on Thursday. (And please read our Webchat guidelines above before posting ie only one question each). Many thanks.

Dear Mr Cameron,

If your party is elected at the next general election, what would happen if the (Labour/Plaid Cymru) Welsh Assembly Government submitted a legislative competence order in an area which was in conflict with Conservative policy?

Would your government, via the then Conservative Secretary of State for Wales, block the LCO, or would it accede to the powers devolved to Wales?

Thank you.

Hi Mr Cameron

The case of Liz Truss and the Turnip Taliban have exposed grass roots Conservative parties as having attitudes toweards women that are stuck in the 50's. You have been in charge of the Conservative party for 4 years. In that time it has gone from being a party where (in the cases of Thatcher, Major and Hague) a person's background was little barrier to high office to a leadership where unless you are:
A) white
B) Middle to upperclass
C) Independantly educated (preferably at Eton)
D) Independantly wealthy

You have little or no chance of sitting on the front bench.

I have tow associated questions for you.

Firstly, is the example of cronyism and old boy's network at the top of the party at least partly responsible for the grass roots Associations feeling free to be more openly discriminatory towards women?

Secondly, as a working mother, an immigrant and (ahem) less than wealthy, why do you think I should vote for a party that gives absolutely no indication of ever having experienced life as it really is for the vast majority of the population?

Dear Mr Cameron, you've made a lot of promises about putting "the family at the heart of policy-making" and supporting "hard-working families".

But I find this claim hard to reconcile with your voting record against:

• introduction of paid paternity leave
• extending maternity leave
• family-friendly hours in parliament
• increasing maternity pay
• the right to request flexible working

I would like to know whether you think the physical presence of parents in a baby's early life is an important thing?

Also what are your plans with regard to the above?

Thanks.

Mr Cameron

Under this Labour Government, this country has become socially, politically and economically bankrupt. How will the Tories set out to amend this?

PS I am not a Daily Mail reader so apologies if i sound like one!

In the light of Prof Nutt's recent comments, are you going to listen to scientists on drugs policy, or the tabloids?
How are you going to reduce 'the state' in general?

Dear Mr Cameron,

Please will you rethink your plans to raise the inheritance tax threshold to £1 Million.

In what world is an inheritance of £625K (the current threshold for a couple) not a HUGE sum of money to be given tax free?

Why do you need to raise the threshold even higher?

Why are you so intent on helping the grown up children of wealthy parents pay as little tax as possible on their very good fortune (being born to rich parents) whilst at the same time, raising the pension age for our poorest pensioners?

Please don't tell me you are taxing non-doms to pay for this (as I heard you say on Five Live this morning) as taxing the rich to help the, errr, rich is pretty shoddy.

Is GB right when he said yesterday that this is possibly the only proposed tax change in history where the prime minister and his chancellor will personally know by name all the beneficiaries (as they will all live in Notting Hill).

That was quite funny and very possibly true!

thank you

Dear Mr Cameron

Yesterday my wfe and I visited a class within a MS school for children whose Asperger's Syndrome has negatively affected their school experience and need support whilst not requiring full SN provision.

It is ideal for my son, who is in Yr 5 so has his planning review this year.

If we are lucky enough to get a place, can you assure me that place will still be funded when he actually goes to secondary level in 2011? As a lower level of educational need I am concerned that this school will be targeted for cost cutting, and my son left to the eating disorders and bullying that has destroyed his primary experience, and will miss out on the teaching that will enable there to be parity between his ability (high) and performance (low).

Thank you

If the Conservative Party came to power, what would their policy be regarding funding for the National Health Service and Mental Health Services in particular? Would we be facing drastic cuts in funding?

ronshar - the four nappy a day rule is where incontinent children with SN are only entitled to receive four state provided nappies a day. Shocking eh? So as a parent you have no choice but to try and procure extra nappies (at great expense - Pampers don't make nappies for children over 6 - and supermarkets certainly don't stock them) for your dc, which is very hard to do - it took us 6 months just to get a referral to an incontinence specialist.

What's the alternative open to us? To keep our children in dirty nappies - hardly a choice.

Message withdrawn

Mr Cameron,

What is the Conservative Party's stance on the childcare voucher scheme and the current Prime Minister's proposals to abolish this tax relief, which is the only source of childcare assistance available to many working parents?

Regards,
Jennie Hammond

Mr Cameron, just how do you plan to get this country out of debt??

I also second the pot noodle question...I am guessing it is the classic chicken and mushroom variety?

Hi Mr Cameron

What is your party's policy regarding the provision of more in-depth NHS eye tests for children? It's estimated that 1 in 5 of the population suffer from Binocular Instability which seriously hampers a child's ability to learn to read.

The government is fully aware that this easily treatable and extremely common condition exists and yet they refuse to provide the eye tests that would pick it up at an early age. Perhaps if they did, there would be fewer children (and therefore adults) with literacy problems.

My 8 year old who has perfect eyesight was diagnosed over 2 years ago (privately) and her glasses (which she now no longer needs to wear) did wonders for her reading and hence her self esteem. It's a shame for all those children who will struggle needlessly at school and not realise their potential just because the government won't invest money in improving NHS eye tests.

Who inspired you in your youth, and who can the youth of today look to for inspiration that isn't part of the celebretariat?
How can we give children and young people (and in particular girls) aspiration for success and achievements that don't include fame, fortune and "accessorising"? (actually, we need a [sneer] emoticon, because just isn't strong enough.)
Who would you hope are your children's role models?

(I kid you not- on a school visit, I asked a 10yo what she was good at and she replied 'accessorising' )

I live very near to your home in W10 and wonder why you have not recognised the incredible community that exists in this diverse area because childrens facilities are made available to everybody, not just the poorest - which will be decimated by cuts to Sure Start/ Childrens Centres/ child benefit/ tax credits etc. Your plans to support the 'neediest' only through childcare etc means there can be no interaction between different sectors of society. Are you aware that this will ghettoise the poorest and neediest in society, rather than integrate them? Does post-natal depression, children with special needs, need for parental support not exist throughout society? Please do not socially engineer your neighbourhood so that our community does not continue into the next generation.

Dear Mr Cameron

How many people do you have working with you on this webchat? Preselecting questions, advising on answers etc.

I really hope the conservatives win and start to take a hard look at all the current gov't / state / local gov't interference (and cost) that affects so many families these days. We need much more of a common sense approach, reduce beauracracy and ensure any new schemes and plans will work and offer real value for money - example the super huge NHS computing system, the huge waste in defence contract sourcing, OFSTED meddling so much with childminders etc etc.

Justabouttoturn35,

Oh the stories the neighbours could tell - the beautiful pavement and re-tarred road specifically for Mr C. Lovely money pouring in from the Conservative council into an area that had faced total neglect (we didn't even have police patrols). Not complaining about brand new adventure playground and water park though... Oh yes, and his children going by car to the only highly selective almost exclusively white church school in the area. Yes, he did teach Sunday School during his eldest child's application process to show his commitment to the church, although his recent comments in the press seem to suggest he no longer holds church-going as something he needs to do. Local small-classed C of E school in walking distance is maybe not good enough... Never seen him put his bins out though- maybe he is composting.

Dear Mr Cameron,

Would the Scottish Conservatives consider giving (circa) 5000 Scottish Tenant Farmers the absolute right to buy, thus abolishing the feudal stranglehold many of the landowners have over their tenants?
The SNP have shelved this issue thus creating the rapid decline of a traditional industry.

Many thanks if this question is answered.

Justabouttoturn35

It was either Sunday School or creche care or singing, something he felt passionately about at that particular moment. Wonder if his kids will go to the local secondary school or find that they really need to continue their privileges elsewhere. Shame, he missed out on vibrant exciting diverse and intelligent local community.