Black Friday
Consumer news and issues presented by Peter White. Including Black Friday, the NHS 'healthy new towns' programme and apprentice pay.
It's Black Friday and retailers are forecasting record sales as they try to tempt people with heavily promoted discounts. Last year we spent about three billion pounds and the big shops will be hoping for a pre-Christmas sales boost, despite warnings on this programme that some Black Friday deals are not as good as they seem. The Chancellor too will no doubt be watching closely after doubts over consumer confidence. We report from a shopping centre in the West Midlands.
In this week's budget, Philip Hammond said he wanted three hundred thousand new homes to be built in the UK every year. Plans are well underway for some of them in England with, for the first time, the NHS playing a part in their design. They're known as "Healthy New Towns". There are ten projects. Some are vast, like at Ebbsfleet Garden City in Kent, which will get fifteen thousand new homes. Others will deliver just a few hundred new houses and flats. The idea is that by promoting a healthy lifestyle, the NHS will end up spending far less looking after us further down the line. But what do they actually mean when they describe these new towns as "healthy"? We report from one of the towns in the north west of England.
One hundred and thirty five thousand apprentices in England are being paid less than the apprentices' minimum wage, according to the the TUC. We explore why some employers are not meeting their obligations.
Presenter: Peter White
Producer: Helen Roberts.
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Chapters
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Black Friday part one
The shops are forecasting record sales, as they try to tempt people with big discounts
Duration: 04:35
Healthy Towns
What are the so called "Healthy New Towns?"
Duration: 08:30
Exercise and Fitness programme
We hear from reporter Shari Vahl about a New Year's Day programme about exercise
Duration: 02:18
Apprentices
135,000 apprentices in England are paid less than the apprentices’ minimum wage say TUC
Duration: 06:13
Light Cinemas
The Light Cinema is the fastest growing chain in the UK
Duration: 04:50
Black Friday part two
We report live from the Intu Merry Hill shopping centre in the West Midlands
Duration: 04:20
Disability Tickets
Going to see a band or comedian can be even more costly than usual if you're disabled
Duration: 06:58
Broadcast
- Fri 24 Nov 2017 12:15Â鶹Éç Radio 4