The economy, defence and electoral reform were the dominant themes among the questions asked by backbench MPs at prime minister's questions today.
Mark Pritchard (Con, The Wrekin) asked about West Mercia police cutting jobs. He blamed the previous Labour administration for damaging the public finances, and said "many of these jobs and thousands of other public sector jobs could have been saved".
The deputy prime minister agreed that the "largest deficit in our peacetime history" was Labour's fault.
Duncan Hames (Lib Dem, Chippenham) detailed the imprisonment of a Wiltshire police officer over an assault, questioning why the offending officer was on full pay for two years whilst the case was looked into.
The deputy prime minister said the "highest standards" must be maintained.
Gregg McClymont (Lab, Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) asked a question on separation of high street banking and investment banks.
Clegg said there is a "lively debate about the issue" and that the former chancellor made his own views very clear.
He added that they believed in opposition there should be a separation and added a review has now been called for into this and that recommendations will be looked at before a decision is made.
John Redwood (Con, Wokingham) asked about cuts being possible without damaging public services.
Clegg replied that not plotting a way out of debt would result in economic stagnation.
He said: "The challenge of balancing the Budget and filling the huge black hole left by Labour is indeed a very very difficult challenge, one of course which has been recognised by Tony Blair in his recent book."
Clegg quoted: "'If governments don't tackle deficits, this then increases the risk of a prolonged slump. If we fail to offer a convincing path out of debt, that will itself plunge us into stagnation' - I agree."
Anne Begg (Lab, Aberdeen South) said the charity Shelter this year revealed 54,000 children will lose out as a result of changes to housing benefit. Pensioners £11,000 worse off a week. She added: "Is this what the chancellor meant by 'tough but fair'?".
Clegg replied that having the highest number of children in workless households in Europe is a shameless legacy.
He said this government will create incentives to get people off of incentives and in to work.
James Arbuthnot (Con, North East Hampshire) thanked the government for pledging to review the Mull of Kintyre Chinook helicopter crash in 1994, calling for its independence
Clegg said there will be an independent review of the evidence of the Mull of Kintyre Chinook helicopter crash and said the government has a long standing interest in this tragic disaster and the circumstance around it.
"To ensure its complete independence, the review will be conducted by a respected lawyer who is independent of the government and who has not previously expressed a view on the disaster," Clegg said.
"The reviewer and the precise terms of reference will be announced soon."
Gregory Campbell (DUP, East Londonderry) asked about the ombudsman report that showed that a Catholic Priest was allowed to escape to the Republic of Ireland despite being a suspect in a bombing. He called for an apology from the Catholic Church.
In response, the deputy prime minister said the government is "profoundly sorry" that the Catholic priest involved in the Claudy bombing which killed nine people in July 1972 was not initially investigated.
Andrea Leadsom (Con, South Northamptonshire) called on the government to honour its pledge to Equitable Life policy holders.
Clegg said the coalition government is "absolutely committed" to bringing justice to Equitable Life policyholders.
Joan Walley (Lab, Stoke-on-Trent North) asked what protection there will be for Job Centre Plus Workers ahead of next months comprehensive spending review.
Clegg said the "most important objective of all is to increase incentives into work".
He added that Labour announced £44bn of cuts but never had the "decency or honesty" to say where they would fall
Nick de Bois (Con, Enfield North) detailed the extradition of a constituent to Greece who had not yet been tried after ten months in prison. He called for a review for the legislation.
Clegg said he would be happy to meet the family of the constituent and referred to the Home Office review of the extradition treaties.
Ian Davidson (Lab, co-op, Glasgow South West) announced that it is his birthday. He asked for a present of a couple of aircraft carriers, not to be shared with "some French bloke".
He told MPs the UK's contribution to the EU could be cut to fund the country's independent naval fleet.
The deputy prime minister said he cannot oblige Davidson's gift request.
Sheryll Murray (Con, South East Cornwall) called on the government to stop people applying for visas in order to access NHS services.
Clegg confirmed that they were working on proposals to ensure people could not abuse the NHS system.
Nic Dakin (Lab, Scunthorpe) said that cuts in public spending will hit a play scheme in his Scunthorpe constituency and that the planned referendum on electoral reform will cost too much.
Clegg accused Labour of not making a single suggestion on how to make cuts without hitting frontline services
Eleanor Laing (Con, Epping Forest) asked how Clegg could "justify" the £100m cost of the referendum when families and businesses were facing tough economic times.
Clegg responded that holding the electoral reform referendum on the same day as local elections next May will save £30m.
Kevin Brennan (Lab, Cardiff West) asked if the deputy prime minister if he was willing to apologise for the decision he made on the £80m Sheffield Forgemasters loan.
Brennan asked: "Following the report of the select committee and this morning's report in the Financial Times, are you now prepared to apologise for the mistake you made about Sheffield Forgemasters and join the Liberal leader of Sheffield City Council in calling for some public finance for this project?"
Clegg responded that the loan was cancelled as it was not affordable, he said Labour wrote the cheque in its last days in power knowing "it would bounce".
He added: "But we have made it very clear to Sheffield Forgemasters that we will continue to work with them to see how we could support them in the future once the budget situation becomes clearer after the comprehensive spending round."
Ian Murray (Lab, Edinburgh South) paid tribute to the Rotary club in his constituency. He called for the gift aid scheme to be altered so bucket collections can be included.
The deputy prime minster said that the group and other organisations raising money to help those affected by floods in Pakistan are doing essential work.
Richard Bacon (Con, South Norfolk) referred to the impact that Chinese lanterns had on farming and asked what would be done to reduce risks to livestock and crops.
Clegg said the government was looking to reduce the risk of lanterns.
He said the department for business, innovation and skills was contacting the manufacturers of the lanterns and "demanding that they should in future be 100 per cent biodegradable".
Christopher Chope (Con, Christchurch) asked whether the Lib Dems would leave the coalition if the bill on reforming the electoral system does not get through Parliament.
The Liberal Democrat leader said the future of the coalition government does not hinge on just one piece of legislation.
He said: "I am not sure if he will be pleased or disappointed when I say to him that the resilience ... of this coalition is not dependent on one piece of legislation."
Clegg added that the bill is just one part of a programme of political reform.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd