Main content

Housing act, Scrapped cars

Consumer news and issues. The Housing and Planning Act has been passed but is it fit for purpose? Plus the falling price of scrap metal.

The new housing and planning act has finally become law but not before a major political tussle involving 18 Government defeats and a number of compromises by its opponents. So has anybody got what they wanted and will it solve the problems of a chronic housing shortage, ever rocketing prices and building houses fit for the future.

Last month, NHS England announced that the due to a shortfall in pharmacists and an increase in patient demand, they plan to recruit one-thousand-five-hundred more clinical pharmacists to work alongside doctors in GP surgeries. But the high street is now planning an alternative. Now Boots has revealed plans to offer customers more treatments traditionally provided by GPs some of their high street stores. Examples of these treatments are diabetes risk assessments, sore-throat tests and cancer checks.

The crisis in the contracting British steel industry has been in the news a great deal recently and that's causing major problems in the scrap metal trade. Scrap makes up about 45% of the world's steel production but as steel plants have closed, the price of the scrap they used to buy and recycle has plummeted. In turn that's causing a growing problem when it comes to abandoned cars-- your clapped out motor is worth less and less at the scrap dealers.

Forty per cent of what we buy is on special offer. That's what Fintan Hastings from the British Retail Consortium said on You & Yours back in April. We decided to test that out - what are the special offers we buy most of - and do they really represent good value for money? We sent our reporter Andrew Fletcher to find out.

Thousands of reports of computer fraud are made to the national cyber crime unit every year. Scammers call you and say there is a problem with your computer and tell you they can fix it if you just type in a programme. . Well this week they chose the wrong people to ring - the You and Yours office. And got our reporter Melanie Abbott.

Presenter: Peter White
Editor: Chas Watkin.

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • Plain Packaging for Cigarettes

    New rules that cigarettes can only be sold in plain packaging come into effect today.

    Duration: 04:35

  • High Street Pharmacies

    Fears patients will end up paying for tests on the high street that are free on the NHS.

    Duration: 06:23

  • Housing & Planning Bill

    The much criticised bill was enacted yesterday after a bumpy ride through Parliament.

    Duration: 07:24

  • Scrapped Cars

    Why some people are abandoning their cars instead of heading for the scrap yard.

    Duration: 07:12

  • BOGOF

    What are the offers we buy most of and do they really represent good value for money?

    Duration: 06:14

  • Online Safety

    Thousands of reports of computer fraud are made to the cyber crime unit each year.

    Duration: 06:20

Broadcast

  • Fri 20 May 2016 12:15

Health

Health

A selection of the best health advice and discussions from You & Yours.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle

From hanging wallpaper to takeaway apps, some of our favourite features about lifestyle.