Main content

27/06/2011

Consumer news with Julian Worricker. Will electric vehicles catch on? Can you trust a solar panel salesman? And does the Rotary Club have a future?

Consumer news with Julian Worricker.

The government has set aside 拢400 million this Parliament to be invested in encouraging us to buy electric vehicles but will they catch on? Would it not be wiser to test the consumer appetite by promoting the use of hybrid vehicles more vigorously?

The Rotary Club has been a solid social fixture in middle England for decades but has it moved with the times sufficiently? Membership is falling; its raison d'etre of raising money for charity through the social gathering of like-minded people seems a bit old fashioned. The Women's Institute, an organisation of similar vintage and social standing, have managed to refresh themselves; what hope for the Rotary Club?

Are solar panel salesmen the 21st century equivalent of the double glazing rep? Which magazine has found evidence of mis-selling and says consumer ignorance and weak regulation is making the industry a minefield for homeowners thinking about opting for solar power.

QR codes are becoming ubiquitous. They are small black and white squares packed full of dots and blots and can be found embedded in printed advertising. What are they for; why are we seeing rather a lot of them; how does one use them?

They have been slow off the mark but the 'Yes' campaign for High Speed Rail Two has been launched. The plan to build a new line out from London to Birmingham, Manchester and beyond has been lambasted by opponents - who say it is not needed and will cause terrible environmental damage. The Yes campaign, naturally, disagree.

Available now

57 minutes

Last on

Mon 27 Jun 2011 12:00

Chapters

  • Email fraud

    Fraudsters are preying on our better nature in the latest email scam.

    Duration: 05:49

  • Solar Selling

    Consumer organisation Which? say sharp practice and high pressure sales are dogging the domestic solar power market.

    Duration: 07:21

  • Electric Cars

    Should we be spending millions on a charging infrastructure for electric cars or wait until the consumer chooses to buy them?

    Duration: 07:26

  • QR Codes

    What does the white square filled with black dots and blotches that's increasingly appearing on printed adverts mean?

    Duration: 05:17

  • Rotary

    Does the Rotary Club need a make-over?

    Duration: 09:24

  • School dinners

    The school that goes to the pub for lunch.

    Duration: 08:39

  • High Speed Rail

    Supporters of High Speed Rail Two have launched a say 'Yes' campaign to the proposed line linking London with Birmingham and Manchester; what's their point?

    Duration: 05:24

Broadcasts

  • Mon 27 Jun 2011 12:00
  • Mon 27 Jun 2011 12:04

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.