Today - 23/10/2009

Presented by Justin Webb and John Humphrys. The debate continues over the BNP's appearance on Question Time last night. The Welsh secretary Peter Hain has criticised the BBC but justice secretary Jack Straw, who appeared on the programme's panel, said that for the first time the views of the BNP had been properly scrutinised. Correspondent Angus Stickler went to hear what the audience members thought of the programme. It is the deadline for school application forms to be received in some areas of the country, but the postal strike has led to a backlog and could affect children's chances of going to the secondary school of their choice. Local authorities have said that if applications do not arrive on time then they cannot be considered. Shirie Ritchie of the Local Government Association discusses whether some children will consequently lose a place at their school of choice. Moves to to arrange a reconciliation agreement between the rival Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, are continuing. An agreement could pave the way for elections, but also allow the Palestinians to present a united front in future negotiations with Israel. Middle East correspondent Tim Franks reports on how the Islamist Hamas movement is no longer as popular as it was, after two-and-a-half years in power. Food Standards Authority officials are in Brussels to discuss the findings of tests into the quality of chicken sold in the UK. They have discovered that chicken is pumped with protein powders made from pork and beef, and want better labelling to inform consumers. Campaigners want the practice to be banned. The officials will present their findings to the European Commission. Geoffrey Dovey, who runs a poultry supply company and has long campaigned on this issue, discusses the campaign. Members of the Metropolitan Police's specialist firearms unit are to start patrolling with visible guns. The armed officers will target the capital's most dangerous streets and housing estates alongside neighbourhood officers. Pilot patrols have already begun in Brixton, Haringey and Tottenham. Brian Paddick, former deputy assistant commissioner at the Met, examines whether armed police will combat gun crime. The clocks go back this Sunday and there are the usual complaints that the move only benefits Scottish farmers. Historian Sir Alistair Horne has been arguing that, with devolution and increasing Scottish powers to make their own legislation, Scotland should have its own time zone. Sir Alistair discusses his suggestions. Thought for the Day with Lord Harries of Pentregarth, Gresham Professor of Divinity. Trawler skippers in parts of the UK have already exhausted their fishing quotas for the year and will be without a job until the 2010 quotas in January. A group of fisherman's wives, the Cod Crusaders, says that EU rules are pushing the next generation out of the industry and are meeting the Scottish fisheries minister to discuss how to improve the industry. Reporter Tamasin Ford went to Fraserburgh, on the north-east coast of Scotland, to speak to fishermen and their wives. Lawyers for a ten-year-old Nigerian girl, Adeyoti Ogunsola, and her mother Clementina have won a judicial review of their case. Adeyoti tried to strangle herself after being put in an immigration detention centre by the UK Border Agency, against medical advice. She and her mother were facing deportation to Nigeria but, just hours before their flight, they were granted with a judicial review. Clementina had spent more than five years in the UK, but her application for asylum had been refused. Reporter Sanchia Berg has the latest developments. Several hundred people protested outside the BBC's Television Centre against BNP leader Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time. While many have criticised the BBC for allowing the BNP to appear on the programme, others have praised them. The morning after, how did the leader of the British National Party Nick Griffin perform? David Aaronovitch, columnist for The Times, and Kelvin Mackenzie, former editor of The Sun, examine who won the debate. The White House is expected to make a decision on its Afghanistan policy within the next few weeks. Correspondent Gordon Corera examines President Obama's options for Afghanistan. The Republic of Congo is to give away vast tracts of land rent-free on a 30-year lease to South African farmers. It is hoped that the South African farmers will be able to cultivate the land and help kick start the market for homegrown produce in the country. Johan Pienaar, who helped negotiate the deal for the South African farmers' union, and Mark Ashurst, director of the Africa Research Institute, analyse whether the deal will help the Congo to rise out of poverty and use its rich natural resources. There have been two bomb blasts in Pakistan. Correspondent Mark Dummett reports on the attacks. Much has been made of the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of WWII this year, yet there has been