UK PM warns of permanent cuts

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron takes questions
at a 'PM Direct' event at the Institution of Engineering
and Technology in Birmingham



Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=137379§ionid=351021806


UK Prime Minister David Cameron has warned taxpayers that public sector cuts will be permanent.

In a question and answer session with an audience in Birmingham, Cameron dashed hopes of restoring public sector funding levels once the budget deficit has been addressed.

The prime minister told the audience that cuts imposed by his government should be sustainable.

"We are going to have to change the way we work," he said. "How can we do things differently and better to give value for money?"

"Every family knows that as a business you cannot go on living beyond your means indefinitely. You have to make sure that revenue and spending come into balance. At the end of this parliament we will be paying £17bn in interest just on the interest on debt, (which) is more than we spend on schools."

"There is a moral responsibility," he added. "I don't think we should be racking up our debts for our children to pay. We need to be fair to future generations, and this generation should deal with its own problems."

On a question about social housing provision, the prime minister said that he believes council houses should no longer be granted "for life".

He noted that the tenants should be given fixed-term deals in the future so they can be moved on if their circumstances change.

The prime minister, however, conceded that attempts to reform the system would cause a "big argument".