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09/09/2010

Consumer affairs with Julian Worricker. The argument for 250 New Towns. Plus, are the recently released figures from banks on customer complaints any use to consumers?

Consumer affairs with Julian Worricker. The argument for 250 new towns: A club is launched that wants the public to identify land which could play host to the half a million new homes a year we need to build to meet housing demand in the next two decades. Housing minister Grant Shapps responds.

Last week the high street banks revealed they received 1.3 million complaints between January and June but Consumer Focus says they are not much use to consumers because they were not broken down either by financial brand or by specific complaint.

Cambridge mathematicians have developed an algorithm which will help the police more accurately predict the nature, the frequency and the location of crime; what will it add to the fight against crime?

The world is fast running out of helium. Its most visible use is in party balloons but it does have more important applications too. The gas cannot be replaced and currently it is too cheap to recycle. The true cost of a novelty balloon, say researchers, should be Β£64!

Not so long ago, from a Polish perspective, the UK was viewed as a land of plenty but now it seems the tables are turning. Poland was the only EU country not to dip into recession and sales of luxury goods in the country are booming.

Available now

53 minutes

Last on

Thu 9 Sep 2010 12:00

Chapters

  • Prepayment power scam

    Doorstep con merchants are stealing electricity and defrauding some of Britain's poorest energy customers in a power key scam.

    Duration: 05:46

  • Wood cuts

    The local authorities get creative in the face of cuts

    Duration: 04:47

  • High Street Bank complaints

    The consumer watchdog Consumer Focus calls for the banks to be more transparent over complaints in future.

    Duration: 08:04

  • Helium

    Precious gas depleting at an alarming rate which makes the true cost of a novelty balloon Β£60.

    Duration: 06:31

  • New Towns

    A pressure group launches a campaign to build 250 new towns to meet Britain's future housing need.

    Duration: 14:39

  • Poland

    The luxury goods boom in Poland

    Duration: 05:26

  • Crime

    Cambridge mathematicians develop a formula which claims to be able to predict where and when crime will occur.

    Duration: 06:31

Broadcasts

  • Thu 9 Sep 2010 12:00
  • Thu 9 Sep 2010 12:04

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