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George Clarke on Empty Homes

The scandal of empty homes, the cost of new medical technologies, how communities and businesses will respond to extreme weather events, and gas safety checks for the elderly.

Why short term restrictions on developing new medical technologies are costing us all more in the long run.

TV architect George Clarke on the scandal of empty homes in Britain.
Nearly a million homes in Britain are empty many of them for a period of six months and more.

As the climate warms up, its predicted flooding, drought, extreme heat and cold will become more pronounced. How will communities and businesses respond to extreme weather events?

There's a seasonal postal theme. The parcel service Yodel has a computerised tracking service, yet people are complaining that their deliveries are late or in some cases non-existent. The Royal Mail tells us what it's doing to improve its own parcel delivery service to try and reduce queues at the collection offices. And historian Dominic Sandbrook on the history of the Post Office. He's doing a Radio 4 series on the subject at the moment.

Plus if you are of a pensionable age you may be eligible for a free safety check on your gas boiler and other appliances.

Available now

53 minutes

Chapters

  • Groupon mis-selling?

    Why voucher website Groupon is being investigated by the Office of Fair Trading.

    Duration: 06:05

  • UK Cyber crime

    Tens of thousands of home computers may have been targeted by criminal gangs.

    Duration: 03:49

  • Postal Services Update

    Historian Dominic Sandbrook traces the history of the Post Office for a new series on Radio 4 and we talk to parcel service Yodel which has received complaints about their deliveries.

    Duration: 15:55

  • Gas Safety Checks

    If you are of a pensionable age you may be eligible for a free safety check on your gas boiler and other appliances.

    Duration: 05:19

  • Planning for Extreme Weather

    As the climate warms up, its predicted flooding, drought, extreme heat and cold will become more pronounced. How will communities and businesses respond to extreme weather events?

    Duration: 06:36

  • George Clarke on Empty Homes

    TV architect George Clarke on the scandal of empty homes in Britain. Nearly a million homes in Britain are empty, many of them for a period of six months and more.

    Duration: 05:41

  • Economic impact of NHS innovation

    Innovation in the NHS can help drive the economy - that's according to a report published this week. So why is the take up of new inventions and ways of working in the NHS so sluggish?

    Duration: 09:49

Broadcasts

  • Mon 5 Dec 2011 12:00
  • Mon 5 Dec 2011 12:04

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