Today - 09/10/2009

Presented by John Humphrys and James Naughtie. The government's energy watchdog, Ofgem, has issued a report predicting that household bills could rise by between 14 and 25 per cent over and above inflation within the next six years. Correspondent John Moylan examines the report and Alistair Buchanan, Ofgem's chief executive, explains its findings. President Obama has held a number of meetings this week about whether or not to send more troops to Afghanistan. In his latest, he discussed the dilemma with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. North America editor Mark Mardell reports on the feeling in the US on sending more troops. The hazel dormouse is becoming more difficult to find, and walkers are being urged to look out for evidence for the tiny creature in woods. Environment correspondent Sarah Mukherjee reports on why the creature has gone underground. America's space agency, NASA, is set to smash a rocket and a probe into the surface of the Moon to try to find buried ice. The impact will create plumes of debris visible to telescopes on Earth. The Royal Astronomical Society's Dr Robert Massey discusses what the missions hopes to find. The former head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, has confirmed that he has been offered a job in the Conservative defence team, if David Cameron wins the general election. Sir Richard gave a lecture last night where he confirmed that Mr Cameron had approached him about the role. Sarah Montague comments on Sir Richard's speech and proposed move to the Conservative Party. A Centre for Policy Studies report has accused a minority of women in government of steering women's policy towards 'macho' values. The report argues that policy assumes that women want work to be the central feature of their lives, instead of a value system that is family-centred. The report's author, Cristina Odone, and Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality and Labour's deputy leader, discuss whether the report is a fair assessment. Thought for the Day with Lord Harries of Pentregarth, Professor of Divinity at Gresham College, London. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are leading the Royal Family at a service of commemoration to mark the end of British combat operations in Iraq. Veterans and relatives of the 179 British people killed will participate in the service at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Around 120,000 members of the UK armed forces and civilians served in Iraq between the start of the war in March 2003 and the end of operations earlier this year. World affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge spoke to three people affected by the conflict. Energy industry regulator Ofgem has released a report warning there could be a fall in the supply of gas and electricity. It warns prices could rise by between 14 and 25 per cent over and above inflation within the next six years, as power stations are forced to shut down and due to the volatility of supply from gas producing countries. Shadow energy secretary Greg Clark and energy analyst David Hunter discuss the future of the UK's energy supply. Singer Lizzie Emeh has severe learning difficulties but can write and perform songs. At the age of 32 she is about to release a solo album. Reporter Sanchia Berg went to meet Lizzie during her rehearsals. University College, London is fourth in the latest world ranking of universities - above Oxford and Imperial College, London, and just below Harvard, Cambridge and Yale. In total, four British universities make the top six places in the annual Times Higher Education Supplement world rankings. Malcolm Grant, president and provost of UCL, examines whether university rankings are accurate. The British ambassador in Burma has met with the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Miss Suu Kyi was recently sentenced to 18 months under house arrest for breaching the terms of her detention. Andrew Heyn, British Ambassador to Burma, comments on his meeting with the country's confined opposition leader. A fundraising campaign is underway to keep the Anglo-Saxon treasure found in a field in Staffordshire. Correspondent Phil Mackie reports from the treasure's current home at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, where it has attracted more than 40,000 visitors. Are children's books too scary? John Connolly, author of children's novel The Gates of Hell, discusses how scary children's books should be. For the past 18 months, the Today programme has stayed in touch with Raad Rassak, a 39-year-old businessman and father of four living in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Reporter Andrew Hosken asks Mr Rassak about the problems facing Basra today. In the history of war, who are the Davids who have triumphed over the Goliaths? The greatest military underdogs are the subject of a lecture at the Imperial War Museum by Saul David, Professor of War Studies at the University of Buckingham. Prof David and Philip Sabin, Professor of Strategic Studies at King's College, London