Election debate: Norwich North candidates answer your questions

Jess Asato (Labour), Adrian Holmes (Green), Chloe Smith (Conservative), Glenn Tingle (UKIP) and James Wright (Liberal Democrats) all took part in Thursday's online debate. You can read the list of questions and answers below.

• Debbie Mann: As a single mum what incentive does your party have to encourage me to work full time?

we want to see single parents receive all the support you need to get back into work and also ensure your wage is sufficient to make a difference between being on benefits and working. we will also give child support and nursery places for mothers returning to work

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

We will restore cuts made in services in local government children service and provide more help with childcare costs.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

Hi Debbie. We believe strongly in helping people into work where they can. We have legislated for 'Universal Credit', a new type of benefit which will make every extra hour you work and pound you earn worth your while instead of having to worry about the loss of benefits after (for example) 16 hours - a common worry for many. We are also pledging to raise the amount of free childcare you get for a 3 or 4 year old to 30 hours rather than the current 15. I think a volunteer from my team may have spoken to you yesterday during our canvassing - and I believe your kids might be older than that! - so it comes back to Universal Credit and of course also the number of job opportunities available in the local economy. We have helped bring about 2 million more jobs in the last five years and will keep our economy strong. Chloe

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

We aim top bring in a basic income payable to all adults which will act as a safety net if you need to take a break from employment without having to go to job centre.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

We want to make sure that work pays for all people, and that you will always be better off working. Our policy of raising the personal tax allowance to £12,500 will mean a tax cut of around £400 which benefits those on lower incomes.

We also wish to extend free child care to all two year olds, and to the children of working families from the end of paid parental leave.

On a personal level I would like to see companies adopt the Living Wage as their default, ensuring that workers are paid a fair amount for the work that they do.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

Hi Debbie, we have pledged to introduce 25 hours of free childcare and also wraparound care before and after school. We are also committed to increasing the minimum wage to £8 by 2020 to ensure that work pays. I'm proud to be a member of the Norwich Living Wage campaign and I know that Norwich City Council has the aim of Norwich becoming one of the first living wage cities which would ensure that residents get a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. Without ensuring that people have enough to live on, there isn't much incentive for working. We'd also abolish exploitative zero hours contracts so that you actually have the opportunity to work full time - many of these contracts don't allow people to know when they can pay their bills which isn't the hallmark of a decent society as far as I am concerned. We wouldn't have the marriage tax break - I don't think we should stigmatise people who aren't in a married relationship. Finally, we have said that we will protect tax credits - something the Conservatives won't commit to which has got to be worrying if you are looking to work in a low income job.

by Labour: Jess Asato

James mentions the personal allowance which is right. Our manifesto also includes making sure the Minimum Wage is always income tax free because we believe that the lowest earners should be able to keep more of their own money.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

Following on from Jess's comment we are committed to raising the minimum wage to the living wage of £10 by 2020.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

Getting Universal Credit right must be key; the government has taken time to roll out the system so far but it is important that it is not rushed - the potential for failure will have a real impact on peoples lives. We would also invest in back-to-work and healthcare support for those who need it.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

I have to say that I am very sceptical about the 2 million jobs claim which Chloe makes. Many of these are low-paid, insecure jobs like those which were profiled as part of the Dispatches programme about Sports Direct this week. Many people are also being forced to become self-employed because they can't find full time work. In Norfolk on average a woman earns £9000 self-employed which is not a decent salary by any standards. So we're committed to creating well-paid, high-skilled jobs which are more secure.

by Labour: Jess Asato

• Ben C asks: Does immigration have a positive or negative impact on the NHS specifically and the country as a whole?

Immigration in the right numbers will have a positive effect and we encourage a CONTROLLED level of migration, however there is a real strain on the NHS in general due to overpopulation and without addressing the number of hospitals and doctors surgeries we will see an additional strain on services. We must provide more facilities if things are to improve. Health tourism costs around £2bn/year

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

Hi Ben. On the NHS: clearly you want public services to be able to cater properly for the population, so the ability of the NHS to keep on serving people is why we want to control immigration. I suppose some would call that a 'negative' but it's more about responsible government. I also know many people who have come from across the world to contribute their skills to the NHS workforce which I welcome. On the country as a whole: people coming to the country to contribute are a positive. People not coming to do so are less welcome - exception of asylum seekers - so therefore Conservatives seek to control immigration.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

I believe immigration has a positive impact on the country as a whole. Migrants are coming here to work and they are net contributors to the economy. Many migrants work in the NHS helping to provide vital care for our ageing population. My own experience of having a pare in hospital recently has left me extremely grateful for the excellent care migrant NHS nurses and staff are contributing

by Green: Adrian Holmes

Overall immigration has a positive impact on the country; in Norwich we have been enriched both culturally and economically over the centuries and without migrant workers businesses in East Anglia would find it difficult to fill vacancies.

Healthcare workers from abroad are vital to providing the numbers trained professionals that the NHS needs to give us the healthcare have come to expect. The Lib Dems would put an extra £8bn into the NHS to provide these services.

Without migrants universities such as the UEA would suffer as the students bring significant income into the city and wider economy.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

There is very little evidence that immigration has a negative impact on the NHS - indeed you are more likely to be given life-saving treatment by an immigrant in the NHS than be treated next to someone who is an immigrant because so many are young and don't need to rely so much on healthcare. There is also evidence from the Migration Observatory that migrants contribute more to our tax system than they take in respect of public services or benefits. However, it's right that we ensure our young people are given opportunity to work within the NHS and other jobs locally which is why Labour has pledged to ban recruitment agencies which only hire from overseas and ensure that EU migrants have to work and pay tax for two years before they earn their entitlement to benefits. We have also said that we would require public sector workers in public facing roles to speak English and stop child benefit being sent abroad.

by Labour: Jess Asato

A note on our record: in government we have tightened visa regulations to root out bogus students or sham marriages. Also stopped people claiming benefits for three months after arrival.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

Its UKIP policy that migrants and visitors to the UK should pay an NHS approves health insurance - we also believe that migrants should pay into this system for 5 years (tax and NI) before they become eligible for the full NHS service as it seems unfair that people who take out should have first out in

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

The problem is that the Conservatives haven't controlled immigration - indeed they have missed their targets to get migration into the 'tens of thousands', while also bearing down on students who want to study at our excellent universities and contribute to our economy. We're also concerned about cheap migrant labour being used to undercut worker's wages - we'd outlaw that.

by Labour: Jess Asato

I do not believe in withdrawing benefits for at least two years foe Migrant workers as the Labour party has announced

by Green: Adrian Holmes

The important aspect with controlling immigration is ensuring that proper border check are introduced, and we would ensure the completing of the programme introduced by the Lib Dems in government - reversing the removal introduced by Labour.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

• Tim: At this point in time, what is the single biggest issue within Norwich North that YOU will concentrate on if elected?

Lack of affordable and warm homes for social rent. We are committed to building 500,000 homes for social rent by 2020 and giving free insulation to all those households in fuel poverty. This would mean 3500 homes in Norwich North brought up to warm homes standard.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

I believe that the social/council housing distribution is extremely biased in favor of migrants over British citizens and I want to see a much fairer system in place

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

Jobs! I've helped over 1,800 local young people into work as the local MP through the 'Norwich For Jobs' project which I founded - massive partnership of city organisations and 160 businesses pledging paid work to youngsters - but there's more to do there. We want to go further and help young people with disabilities or other health conditions into work. I also want to ensure people of all ages have more opportunities, which can only be done because the Conservatives will ensure a strong economy. A local example of this is that I would also continue my regional leadership of the campaign for better rail - this is important because it could bring 8,000 more jobs to Norwich.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

I believe that housing is the biggest issue within Norwich North - for two reasons. Firstly, we need to make sure that enough of the right houses are built to satisfy the needs of local people. We have a plan to build 300,000 houses a year across the county - BUT it is vital that these are built in the right areas and with proper local consultation.

Providing homes for young people is particularly important. Our Rent to Own scheme allows monthly payments to build up so eventually the home is owned, and the Help to Rent tenancy deposit loans help young people get into their first place.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

People tell me from the conversations I have on the doorstep that the biggest issue they face is the fact their living costs are too much, so I will ensure we bear down on the pressures that people face in their everyday lives. In particular a passion of mine is ensuring people are paid enough money for the work they do - the Living Wage. I will personally meet with local employers to explain the benefits of paying a living wage and campaign to ensure Norwich becomes one of the first living wage cities - lifting over 24,000 people's wages. I will also vote to abolish exploitative zero hours contracts, and also the bedroom tax which affects over 2,000 people in Norwich North - taking money they desperately need to pay their bills and forcing them out of their homes.

by Labour: Jess Asato

As well as jobs, my six point plan of work for Norwich North also includes: better schools, better transport all round, a good home for everyone, a strong NHS and keeping our beautiful area a great place to live, work, retire and bring up a family.

I've worked for the area for six years and locally tackled big problems, and nationally the economy is now improving, but there's more to do so let's not change course now.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

We have a lack of social historically because Local Councils have not been able to build social housing. We will end the right to buy and restore cuts in housing benefit.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

Where are we going to keep building these houses? Surely not on Greenfield sites and parks etc.

We have to build a city the size of Hull this year alone to keep up with NET migration - this doesn't even start to catch up o the backlog on previous years - I believe we must start ti limit migration at this Parliament as we cannot afford to keep these levels of development up forever

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

I agree with James that housing is a huge issue which is why Labour has also pledged to build a million new homes, scrap stamp duty for first time buyers but also ensure that people in the private rented sector have fair rents and long-term tenancies of three years if the choose. If we don't ensure more young people are able to afford their own home, they are unlikely to be able to buy one until they are in their early 40s. That means this generation is going backwards - lowest level of housebuilding since the 1920s under this Government.

by Labour: Jess Asato

I don't agree with Glenn's assertion that social/council housing distribution is biased in favour of migrants. There is no evidence to support this, and as a society we should be building more houses in order that we can satisfy the demand.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

• Chill4usCarers: Will they be keeping carers allowance? #VoteEast

Our party will keep and enhance carer's allowance.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

Yes absolutely.

by Labour: Jess Asato

We will abolish the Bedroom Tax which is directly affecting those with disabilities who regularly need friends and relatives to stay over at help.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

Families are important to us and so are traditional family values and we would continue to support carers to keep families together rather than see them moved away from their family environment to another place where they would feel alone and possibly alienated and unwanted. Carers are often unsung heroes and we recognize that!

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

Hi Wendy at Chill4Us - by the way, I'm really impressed with all you have done over the years for carers and I look forward to joining you as a Trustee shortly.

No plans to change carers allowance. Obviously there has been talk about this in the news today and I think the 'leaked doc' is very sad - it was the Lib Dems who commissioned the ideas in the first place!

To help carers more generally, I have personally been part of legislating in Parliament for the Care Act and, within that, the need for an assessment for the carer alongside that of the person they care for.

Locally, I've worked particularly closely with Norfolk Young Carers to ensure their needs are met.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

We are committed in the long term to bringing in basic income for all which would allow cares to work less hours

by Green: Adrian Holmes

The Lib Dems have announced a £150m package for carers across those family members that are older, disabled or seriously ill.

Under our plans, these carers will receive a £250 bonus to ease the cost of caring for family members who requires support for 35 hours or more over a 12 month period.

Carers could get an additional five days paid additional 'care leave' a year and would be allowed to do more work without losing their Carer's Allowance by extending the 'earnings limit' from £110 per week to £150 per week.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

Labour will also integrate health and social care services into a seamless system of 'whole-person care' which will ensure carers don't have that fraught negotiation for their loved ones which sometimes results in them being pushed from pillar to post. We will also abolish the bedroom tax which disproportionately affects carers. It doesn't seem right that someone who cares for a loved one can't have a room of their own. They are contributing to society by caring and saving the state money. That's another way in which the bedroom tax is a false economy. We will also introduce a new duty on GPs and hospitals to identify family carers so they get the right support and a new right for carers to ask for an annual health check. We will also ring fence the money councils get for carers' breaks.

by Labour: Jess Asato

We are like labour also against the bedroom tax as we this as a way to force people out of their larger houses to add to much needed housing stock

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

Carer's need the flexibility to reduce working hours when needed for extra caring. Requiring carers to work a minimum number of hours a week doesn't help

by Green: Adrian Holmes

One thing Chloe sadly won't commit to is abolishing the bedroom tax which hits around 60,000 carers.

As a former child carer, I have to say that it is an injustice to so many children that they have to balance their education with their caring responsibilities. I want to see a society where young people who are carers are given real support to ensure they lead fulfilling lives.

by Labour: Jess Asato

Our Better Care Fund already stands to integrate health and social care which I strongly welcome.

On a related topic - the Care Act also caps the cost of care and will prevent people from having to sell their home. Speaking about this to a constituent only recently.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

Looking at the wider care in general, we would crack done on bad care with better pay and conditions for care staff and high standards for all care providers.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

• Mark Drysdale asks: Can the candidates tell us what their party's plans are for Free Schools if they hold power after the election?

We support Free schools as well as Grammar schools. there are many benefits for having a variety of educational options and we welcome this competition. We believe in starting apprenticeship schemes much earlier and would give students the chance of taking an NVQ / apprenticeship subject instead of taking the 4 non core GCSEs

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

We will take Free Schools and Academies back into the Local Authority education system. Resources have to be shared in a local area and we want democratic control over decisions made by locally elected representatives. The current system is encouraging schools to opt out of the LA and compete for resources from government. We want a cooperative overview of educational provision at the local level.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

We legislated for free schools because they provide an opportunity for parents, students, teachers and the community to exercise choice, raise standards, and use new ideas. We would keep them.

The cross-party Education Select Committee in Parliament recently concluded that parents and students are most concerned about standards, rather than the status of the provider. I agree.

Today, there are a million more pupils than 2010 in schools rated 'good' or 'outstanding' - that has to be a win for the students who need a better education. In Norfolk we particularly need better schools - and I say that having gone to Norfolk comprehensives myself all the way through.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

Our plans are to stop new free schools from being established because they take much needed money which we will spend instead on lowering infant class sizes. Existing free schools will be allowed to continue, but we will expect them to be held to high standards b y a new Director of School Standards in every local area. We will also introduce a new right for parents to 'call intervention' so that swift action is taken to raise standards in failing schools. I am particularly concerned about this government's forced academisation such as is happening at the Hewett and Sewell Park in Norwich North. Not a single teacher, parent, pupil or member of the community have had their say about the future of Sewell Park and yet the Academy Order has already been signed by the Secretary of State - never even visiting the school! That can't be right - we must ensure that local communities decide what happens to their local schools rather than having unaccountable ministers in Whitehall riding roughshod over people's wishes locally because of an ideological obsession with private organisations running schools.

by Labour: Jess Asato

It is important the there is a good quality of education available for all students, and that is the bottom line. I am personally keen on ensuring that all schools have a good degree of local accountability and transparency and would like to ensure that the Local Authority has the ability to ensure representation on the governing body.

We would ensure that education funding remains constant in real times, which additional budget provided as pupil numbers rise.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

Education is the way forward and its important that children from every background receive training to achieve their full potential

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

I agree with James that education funding must rise in real terms - something which the Conservatives won't commit to. Labour has said we will protect the entire education budget from the early years to 19 ensuring it rises in line with inflation every year. We've also said that we will guarantee that all teachers in state schools have to become qualified.

by Labour: Jess Asato

In the last 8 months at Sewell Park College the staff responded to a bad ofsted report by working with an interim head teacher to turn the school around. The school now find itself being forced into becoming an academy by this government.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

Like Jess I am completely opposed to the forced academisation of schools. As a governor of a school that was placed into special measures back in 2011, I am delighted that we were able to achieve a 'good' grading again with becoming an academy, changing the governors or senior leadership. The notion that only an academy can improve standards is false.

It is entirely right that local communities come together to decide, in consultation with the local authority, on what happens to education provision in their area.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

I've been a school governor locally of a primary and a secondary and I simply return to this point: standards. It is ideological to get hung up about the type of provider rather than focus on standards. Space for facts too - the law provides for consultation on academies which Sewell Park College has done - I was at the meeting where they began it!

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

• jonno1805: What would you do to protect pubs, the heart of many communities, which have had a hard time recently.

We support the registering of local pubs under threat of closure as assets of community value. Green Councillors have been working with residents in the Marlpit area to keep a pub at the heart of a community. The Green Party wants to support local micro breweries to produce local ale. We would zero rate VAT for live performances in pubs.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

UKIP runs a 'Save the Pub' campaign - we want to see a much lower levy on beer duty so pubs can compete with supermarkets and to allow each establishment to decide whether they want a smoking room in their pub or not. We believe the smoking ban has caused thousands of pubs to close and with the prospect of further smoking bans coming in from the EU we can only expect worse to come - its all about freedom of choice - if you want to attend a smoking pub or not is YOUR choice! not the EUs

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

I've held constituency surgeries in pubs throughout six years as the local MP, to demonstrate my support!

I'm proud that the Conservatives in government have brought in a set of Community Rights which allow communities to protect assets that they think are important. You can use this to protect pubs with only 20 signatures, which the Evening News showed recently and which CAMRA has long campaigned for.

Pubs are businesses too. We've reduced red tape on them and have made it easier for them to employ people - the Employment Allowance and other things which benefit small employers. We've extended business rate relief.

Also we've scrapped Labour's beer duty escalator - cheers to that!

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

That is a really good question. I am proud supporter of CAMRA and very pleased that Norwich keeps beating York for City of Ale!! (The chocolatey ale at The Fat Cat on Lawson Road was rather good recently!) We have said that we will give communities more control over their high streets to ensure that pubs are given greater protection when it comes to planning decisions. We have also campaigned for a fairer deal for tied pubs who get such a raw deal from many pubcos.

by Labour: Jess Asato

Seeing the number of pubs that are closing across Norwich is a real shame.

In government the Lib Dems created an independent Pubs Adjudicator to ensure landlords who are tied to large pub firms are no worse of than independent pubs. I have spoken with a number of landlords who run both tied and freehouses and they talk of how their are barely able to make a living in the tied pubs, but those that are freehouses to well.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

Business rates is an important point raised by Chloe which is why I am pleased that Labour has said that we will cut and then freeze business rates for small businesses. Our pledge to freeze energy bills will be of great benefit financially to pubs and small businesses too.

by Labour: Jess Asato

The 'Good old local' USED to be the hub of the community - it brought families and friends together regularly and with the local pubs being closed we are seeing a much more insular and the community spirit has suffered. taxing on alcohol also doesn't help

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

There are too many pubs in the hands of large pubcos who are exerting unfair pressure on landlords to take their beer .We woudl legislate to end tied system.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

Chloe is right to say that the Community Rights brought in have given communities an opportunity to protect those assets that are important to them.

I am also a supporter of CAMRA and delighted about the work that they do to improve the image of real ale and help get people back into our pubs.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

• Jan Mclachlan: Will your parties commit to ending tax dodging by large multinational companies which make billions in this country and pay little tax?

Yes. See the 'Google tax' which the Chancellor brought in at this Budget. We expect to raise billions more every year from cracking down on tax dodging, having done more than any government to date and raised £85bn from doing so. The 'tax gap' - the difference between tax collected and the tax which should have been collected - has fallen all the while.

Obviously I have personally been part of legislating yearly for the latest in tax collection and combatting of scams through the annual Finance Bill in Parliament - this is part and parcel of the job of an MP.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

Yes we want to stop all tax dodging by large corporations. Green party policy is made by all members Caroline Lucas introduced an amendment to the Government's Finance Bill to close the 'Mayfair Loophole'. Unfortunately it was not carried but we will will carry on in the next parliament in the same vein.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

Part of our costed manifesto is based on ensuring that we collect more of the tax that is owed to UK exchequer. We would improve tax transparency including in low-income countries by extending county-by-country reporting from banks and extractive industries to all UK listed companies.

Our action in government resulted in a record £23.9 billion last year from clamping down on tax evasion, avoidance and fraud.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

YES - however there is a reason to look at the cause of this! They tax dodge and pay taxes in other countries because of the high levels of tax they are prone to - Isn't it time we looked at changing our tax regime - eg 10% of several billions is better than 20% of nothing. If companies want to avoid tax then they will thru loopholes in the system - should we change the tax liability or tax them out of this country all together - Answer - YES they shouldn't be allowed to avoid tax but treat the problem

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

Short answer, yes we will. It's outrageous that we all have to pay our tax and would be fined if we didn't, but so many companies and wealthy individuals avoid paying the tax they ought to. As a society we believe the broadest shoulders should bear the burden of reducing the deficit which is why we have also said we would reintroduce the 50p rate (abolished by the Coalition). We have a £7.5 billion target to reduce avoidance and evasion and will introduce on the first day of a new Government an Anti-Tax Avoidance Bill. We've also said we would abolish the non-dom rules so that everyone who makes the UK their home pays UK tax which could raise hundreds of millions of pounds.

by Labour: Jess Asato

The UK also led the way globally at the recent G20 to agree a new mechanism to make it easier to identify people or companies hiding money offshore.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

We have to work with our EU partners to make sure that large corporations don't relocate head offices to take advantage of tax loopholes in other countries.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

These companies are multi nationals with vast wealths and we should tap into it! Giving companies like say Amazon an ultimatum will do no good - the tax system in the UK is some of the highest in the world

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

All of this cannot be done alone, and one of the advantages of being in the EU is that we can work together to ensure that EU wide loopholes are closed.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

Actually Glenn, one of the reasons why we shouldn't leave the EU is because we have to work cross border on these issues (and we wouldn't be able to bring in an effective financial transactions tax either if we weren't full members of the EU either). It's clear that the Conservatives will protect the incomes of the wealthy - for example by choosing to give a £140,000 tax cut for a house worth £2million as part of their inheritance tax pledge, while at the same time raising VAT on families and pensioners.

by Labour: Jess Asato

• Sue Denim: What will you do to protect the interests of disabled people?

We will end the current system of fit for work assessments being carried out by private contractors and replace it with a fair assessment by health professionals who have experience of the individuals health needs. We will restore cuts in benefit levels and scrap the bedroom tax.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

Disability is a serious issue. We would end unfair ATOS style work capability assessments and increase carers allowences by £572/year

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

Well the first thing is to abolish the bedroom tax which affects many people with disabilities and is forcing them to leave homes where they are supported in their local communities and which have been specially adapted often at cost to the taxpayer. We will improve employment support for disabled people rather than forcing disabled people unfairly and at great cost to their health into work. We will ensure there are no targets for benefits sanctions for Jobcentre Plus advisors, unlike the evidence we have seen under this government. We will also ensure we invest in 20,000 nurses, 8,000 GPs to ensure that people who are sick and disabled get the NHS care they deserve in a public, not privatised, NHS.

by Labour: Jess Asato

As part of our social house building plans we want at least 10% fitted with disabled freindly fittings.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

We would conduct a review of Work Capability Assessment and Personal Independence Payments to ensure they are fair and accurate. These need to be undertaken by those with appropriate healthcare training.

I think that it is also important that we promote the Access to Work scheme which supports those with disabilities back into work.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

Disabled people should have the same choices and chances as everyone else - it's just not acceptable to be prevented from taking part in everyday life because of a disability.

Conservatives have long supported disabled people's right to be treated equally: a Conservative government passed the Disability Discrimination Act and Conservative MPs made the Autism Act 2009 law, against the wishes of the last Labour government.

Since 2010 we have continued that tradition and will do so again. Our reforms are about bringing disability benefits up to date, encouraging employers to recruit more disabled people (see my earlier local point about what I want Norwich for Jobs to do next), and help ease the transition from education to work. We will protect disabled people wherever possible in the savings we have to make.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

UKIP is very much in favor of a comprehensive and supportive care system to everyone who fall on hard times especially thru incapacity. We realize disability has not just a financial impact but also a family/ mental impact on individuals and they will get the support they need

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

I've also worked closely with several disabled constituents to address unacceptable delays in the WCA, and have lobbied the Minister to ensure that there is proper access to the WCA building - St Mary's House is not acceptable either.

I want the individual needs of any disabled person to be recognised - to me, that is dignity - rather than assumptions made or human beings left to languish on benefits that don't suit their aspirations.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

Chloe just can't be living in the same Norwich that I do. She says this Government has 'protected' disabled people - not according to the hundreds of people with disabilities I have met while campaigning, not to mention the ridiculous situation whereby St Mary's House is STILL not accessible. The rhetoric of strivers vs skivers doesn't help disabled people either, particularly people with mental health issues which aren't obvious to outsiders. We need to support people with health needs and disabilities, not stigmatise them.

by Labour: Jess Asato

In terms of housing benefit form, we would look to ensure that existing social tenants will not be subject to any housing benefit reduction until they have been offered reasonable alternative accommodation. Those who need an extra bedroom for medical reasons should of course have one, and those who have had adaptations should not have their Housing Benefit reduced.

We would also recognise British Sign Language as an official language of the United Kingdom.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

Disabled people have suffered most from the austerity cuts carried out over the last five years.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

• Helen Thompson: Can you rule out any further cuts to policing?

If we don't get elected then NO - But in a UKIP world we would bolster up police forces and give them all the support they need to tackle crime at every level - cyber or on the street. Policing need more funding especially in the current terror climate we face as a nation so my answer is WE would not place anymore cuts on the Police

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

Almost any question tonight that refers to cuts has the same basic point running through the answer: this country has been living beyond its means. That is the fault of the last Labour govt spending too much, though they will try to deny it. In general, more savings will be required so that we are not leaving debts to our children and grandchildren that they couldn't hope to pay. We have aimed to make sure that police forces protect the front line and make efficiencies first. Across the country, crime has gone down at the same time (although Norfolk Police were recently in papers with more recorded crime, saying that was due to the recording method).

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

Yes. We will not cut funding for vital public services including the police. We need more investment in public services, not less. The real drag on the economy, particularly at local level, is the high level of household debt and high rent, heating bills affecting peoples disposable incomes.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

We have pledged to abolish the positions of Police and Crime Commissioners which were so popular that here in Norfolk only 14% of people turned out to vote for them! This will ensure we can put that money into protecting jobs at the frontline - Norfolk is due to lose another 350 frontline police in the next few years. In total there are almost 17,000 fewer police officers protecting our streets and communities than there were in 2010, yet more serious and violent crimes are being reported particularly child abuse, sex crimes and online crimes which take greater police time and expertise to solve. We would also place women's safety centre stage by appointing a new commissioner to set minimum standards in tackling domestic and sexual violence.

by Labour: Jess Asato

What we would do is guarantee that the police pursue the public's priorities by replacing PCCs with Police Board made up of councillors from across the force area.

Local forces would be encouraged to work together with other emergency services in order to pool back office functions and find greater efficiencies there.

As the economy continues to improve, so it then becomes possible to provide additional funding for the police.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

So that's hardly a straight answer, Jessica - no honesty there about what we have to do to ensure we clear the debts that your party left to this country. Labour should have thought about the consequences of cut before racking up such spending, borrowing and debts that we had the largest deficit in our peacetime history and one of the largest deficits in the G7 *before* the financial crash.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

It is not just the police service that is suffering from cuts in the budget. The prison and probation services are facing cuts with cut price private contractors being brought in to do vital rehabilitation work.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

I see where Chloe is coming from with Labour leaving the country almost bankrupt - but we can save billions on things we don't need to bolster up the police

Foreign aid is one where we could easily save £9bn leaving £3bn in reserve - Scrapping the Climate Change act 2008 saving another £18bn and of course leaving the EU saving around £10bn NET

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

We have also committed to ensuring that the police, like other public sector workers, get the pay rises that they deserve.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

Why do those people - public servants and us the public - who had nothing to do with the GLOBAL economic crisis have to bear the brunt of reducing the deficit? Chloe says that Labour created the 'economic mess' but that's just a terrible lie designed to let bankers off the hook for playing Russian roulette with our money. Before the global economic crisis Britain had one of the lowest levels of debt in the G7 (and indeed it was lower than when we got in in 1997, debt inherited of course from the Conservatives). But we needed to bail out the banks - which the Conservatives agreed with (as well as our spending plans up until 2007 of course!)

by Labour: Jess Asato

• Quick fire round: What would your karaoke track be?

Ballroom Blitz by the Sweet

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

Blue is the Colour?....

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

Psycho Killer by talking heads

by Green: Adrian Holmes

Sit Down by James

by Lib Dem: James Wright

Hmm, I doubt you can get the Red Flag on karaoke!

by Labour: Jess Asato

Actually it would be anything by Jon Bon Jovi :)

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

• John: What is your stance on the Northern Distributor Route?

I have campaigned against it since its inception. The road is not going to alleviate traffic congestion in the North of Norwich. It will destroy valuable green belt land and lead to more unsustainable out of town commercial development. We need to invest the money in local public transport, cycling and walking.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

As a distributor route I and my Party are fully against it as we do not want to see development on greenfield sites HOWEVER if it was a bypass similar to that we have in the South part of Norwich then I would support it as this would have minimum impact and the benefits would outweigh he minuses - relieving traffic from the city center and speeding up journey times generally

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

I am in favour of the NDR because it will help to alleviate our chronic transport problems and ensure we can grow economically in the North of the City. We desperately need to ensure that the new homes that are planned for North Norwich have properly planned transport infrastructure investment and the NDR will help with this. But I want to see more investment in cycling too which is why it's great that Norwich City Council has been implementing the Pedalways so that we have cheaper, greener and healthier ways of getting into the City for work and play. I'd also like to see greater bus regulation to bear down on fares and increase reliability for so many people who need to rely on buses.

by Labour: Jess Asato

I talk to lots of constituents about this. There are mixed views. Personally I support the building of the road and have lobbied government to fund it (alongside the other improvements that 'Team Norfolk' has delivered, like the A11, improvements to the A47 and of course the rail campaign which I lead). Here are my reasons:

1) it will ease existing congestion - people in Sprowston, such as on Barker's Lane, can barely get out of their driveways at rush hour because it's an unofficial ring road

2) it will serve new housing and we should always have 'I before E' - infrastructure before expansion

3) it will bring jobs to the area by enabling businesses to better get about.

I also think that the route as it stands is better than no road, although not as ideal as a full route to the A47 in the west would be.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

As our county grows then so does the need to increased transport infrastructure. The NDR is no different in this respect, and with the various traffic issues that we face on a daily basis something needed to be done.

However I would go further and ensure that this road doesn't end up being a 'road to nowhere' and should therefore be joined up with the A47 rather than stopping where proposed.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

One of the first speeches I made in Parliament was to speak in support of the project. I also noted in that speech that it would open up greener travel choices throughout the city by 'distributing' traffic outwards.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

The point about cycling is well made. An additional £8.4m has been provided by the government to enable the City Council to improve cycle ways across the city. That and 20mph zones will do more to encourage walking and cycling.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

My problem with this is that it is a distributor route - taking people to a very large housing estate and businesses - again I ask can anyone else see WHY we need MORE housing?

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

If there is any proof that major road building leads to long term easing of traffic congestion I haven't seen it. We need to revitalise our railways, taking freight of the road and reduce charges for local public transport

by Green: Adrian Holmes

I'm pleased that Labour has said we would devolve greater control over transport spending to local areas - this will help us to better join up transport investment such as Adrian suggests. We have also pledged to develop a National Cycling Action Plan and set national standards to cut deaths and serious injuries too. In particular I favour more 20mph limits on residential roads.

by Labour: Jess Asato

• Fraser@Bowz on Twitter asks about the EU and migration. What is your party's stance on membership of the EU?

WE should most certainly come out! ASAP

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

I welcome the positive contribution to the Norwich economy and society EU migrants are making. We want to stay in the EU.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

In favour of remaining within a reformed EU. A referendum will cause huge economic uncertainty and businesses stand to lose a great deal from a protracted debate about leaving our major economic market. We would play an active role in the EU and protect our reputation internationally.

by Labour: Jess Asato

We are a pro-EU party and wish to remain part of a reformed EU. The benefits to business of remaining in are great and should not be thrown away.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

Hi Fraser. The Conservative Party will provide a referendum on our EU membership, putting the results to the country of efforts to renegotiate the rules of our membership. We believe in people having their say. We are the only party that can deliver that - Lab won't, LD won't, UKIP can't.

by Conservative: Chloe Smith

• Hudson: If the candidates were selling North Norwich to anyone, what three things would they highlight (and they're not allowed to say Mousehold Heath!)

1)Shopping areas Castle Mall and Chapelfield

2)Norwich Cathedral, its churches and Castle

3) Its Nightlife

by UKIP: Glenn Tingle

The Wensum valley and the fantastic Marriott's way cycle and walking route into North Norfolk which is a valuable resource which we stopped from being destroyed by a road scheme.

Waterloo and Wensum parks.

by Green: Adrian Holmes

Cafe Britannia on Britannia Road run so brilliantly by prisoners learning new skills to help them with finding work when they get outside (their cakes are amazing); Wensum Park which has a gorgeous pond replete with ducks to feed and lovely playground for children; and our INTERNATIONAL airport which links us to Europe and the globe, showing just how cosmopolitan we are (oh and also hosts the awesome East Anglia Air Ambulance).

by Labour: Jess Asato

The people. Having spoken with so many people as part of this campaign they are a credit the the city.

Also the river over in Thorpe, with great pubs to spend a summers afternoon.

Catton Park - a brilliant resource in the constituency.

by Lib Dem: James Wright

It has been a huge privilege to represent this wonderful constituency in Parliament for six years. In your maiden speech to Parliament you're supposed to talk about how amazing your constituency is, and I couldn't fit it all in even then!

Great though Mousehold Heath is, there are many other beautiful spots and I always talk about our position on the edge of the city and the countryside. I'm a keen cyclist myself and sneak out whenever I can...

I also talk about our industry and economic potential - for example, our growing aviation industries. Big supporter of the new Norwich International Aviation Academy which puts us on the map nationally and internationally. Jobs are central to people's lives and I am the staunch supporter in this debate of securing our future through a strong economy.

Finally, our arts scene - whatever the election result, the Norwich and Norfolk Festival starts soon afterwards!

by Conservative: Chloe Smith