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The SNP's Angus Robertson asked the PM to make a positive commitment to the EU. He said the timing of the referendum mattered to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London - regions that are all holding elections this year. 

He asked Mr Cameron to defer the referendum beyond June and to be respectful of the views of the governments of these regions.

On the timing of the poll, the PM said it was best to wait and see if a deal is reached and said he did not think it was confusing to hold parallel campaigns.

Read our story about the joint letter from first ministers urging a delay to the referendum

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In reply to the Conservatives' best known pro-European, Ken Clarke, Mr Cameron said: "These are difficult issues...." But he stressed that when countries in Europe have problems they believe are in their key national interests, they have got to have the flexibility to deal with them.

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Former Conservative chancellor Ken Clarke said: "The PM has achieved more on the big issues in this negotiation than I ever expected ... but as you say, you have still got to deliver it."

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In reply to Mr Corbyn, Mr Cameron tackled the Labour leader's criticism over his decision to make a speech and press conference in Chippenham. The PM said he wanted to go to the Wiltshire town where Mr Corbyn was born "to thank them for putting him on earth".

Mr Corbyn called for a strengthening of workers' rights in a socially reformed Europe. "We must drive economic reform to put jobs and growth at the centre of European policy," he said.

The Labour leader said the PM was living in a "never, never land". Labour was calling for a more democratic Europe that delivers jobs and prosperity for people, he said.

Mr Corbyn asked if the PM could confirm that "once this smoke and mirrors side show deal is done", the referendum will be held on June 23, 2016

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Mr Corbyn said protecting non eurozone states was necessary, but said these proposals could not hamper efforts to keep a check on the financial sector or bankers' bonuses. 

He asked the PM if he was out to strengthen competitive markets, or were his plans a figleaf to privatise public services and reduce consumer standards.

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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was pleased the PM "had finally decided to inform the House", and with a note of sarcasm, thanks the PM for giving him a copy of the statement an hour ago. He said despite trumpeting the sovereignty of national parliaments, it would have been more respectful to come to the Commons first and answer questions from MPs, rather than giving a press conference about the EU deal in Chippenham on Tuesday.

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David Cameron says he is not arguing that Britain could not survive outside the EU.

"The question is not could Britain succeed outside the EU but how we will be the most successful," he said.

"If we can't secure these changes, I rule nothing out."

Mr Cameron said the deal published yesterday made clear Britain would never be part of the euro countries, the Schengen borderless-zone, or faced to bail out the eurozone.

People coming to Britain from within the EU will have to wait four years until they have full access to UK benefits, Mr Cameron said. He added that the EU changes would be binding in international law and would be deposited with the UN. "I believe we're making progress in four areas but he process is far from over," he said.

EU migrants will no longer be able to claim universal credit while looking for work and if they haven't found work within six months they will be required to leave, said Mr Cameron, as he continues to set out what he sees as the achievements of the draft UK-EU deal.

The PM said more needed to be done to control migration from outside the EU, but also from within the EU. The draft text closes down the backdoor routes into Britain, he said. It includes a new law to overturn plans that allows illegal migrants to marry and stay in the country.

Mr Cameron says: "We absolutely clear that Britain is going to keep the pound forever." He said the deal leads to a series of principles that protected a single market for Britain, and an option that the UK will never again bail out eurozone countries. 

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Mr Cameron, outlining areas discussed, said every year the EU has got to go through the powers that are no longer needed and return them to nation states. He still faces a battle to convince all his MPs and Cabinet ministers - including Chris Grayling (above bottom right) - to back the UK staying in the EU.

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Opening a statement on the EU renegotiation deal, David Cameron said he had no plans for the UK to be sucked into some kind of European superstate.

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Labour's Stephen Kinnock said the dumping of Chinese steel was killing the British steel industry, and asked why the PM was supporting China. Mr Cameron said he was cutting taxes for British industry - adding that if there's illegal dumping it would be dealt with.

There have been lots of political commentators saying that this has been one of the duller Prime Minister's Questions sessions of recent times. In defence of Jeremy Corbyn and David Cameron it is worth pointing out that the main event today is really the statement from David Cameron which follows on the UK's EU deal. This week's PMQs has had a little bit of the feel of a PMQs held immediately before the Budget each year.