Today - 21/11/2008

Presented by John Humphrys and Evan Davis. John McFall MP says banks must be made to lend to small businesses. Sir Kenneth Bloomfield discusses the plan to scrap the 11-plus exam in Northern Ireland. The Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr has called on his supporters to dismiss a proposed security pact with the US. Andrew North reports from Baghdad. Nick Ravenscroft explains why Manchester's congestion charging plans are causing such controversy. Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell discusses new plans to help lone parents look for work. Dr Suzanne Zeedyk discusses research which finds babies suffer stress if they are in buggies facing away from their parents. Dr Robert Shapiro, former US Under Secretary of Commerce, shares his outlook for the American car industry. Caroline Thomson, the BBC's chief operating officer, answers criticism about how the BBC handled the Ross-Brand affair. Prof John Tongue explains why he is in favour of the congestions charge in Manchester. Gordon McKinnon, at the Trafford Centre, voices his opposition. Angela Knight, from the British Bankers' Association, explains the banks' position with regard to lending to small businesses. Robert Peston analyses what banks and government can do. Correspondent Richard Galpin discusses how he has uncovered evidence of the use of torture by the Russian security forces. Toby Young believes we live in what he calls a celebritariat society, where even those at the bottom of the social scale believe they can rise to the top because they see celebrities doing it. But David Goodhart, editor of Prospect, disagrees. Damian Tambini, senior lecturer at the LSE, and Ian King, from the Times, discuss the idea that the media is over-emphasising the scale of the financial crisis.