Woman's Hour - 16/11/2009

Woman's Hour with Jane Garvey. The row about working parents losing out on government-funded childcare vouchers has escalated. The government says it wants to target resources at those who need help most, using the money instead to provide nursery places for some two year olds. The argument can be applied more widely to other benefits, including child benefit. Woman's Hour look at the arguments for scrapping what one think-tank describes as 'middle-class welfare'. In 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo and non-stop across the Atlantic. She set many other flying records, and was the epitome of Thirties glamour. She confirmed her status as an icon by disappearing over the Pacific while attempting a round-the-world flight. As a new Hollywood film opens based on her life, we ask why she lives on so powerfully in the imagination. There are over 600,000 disabled young people between the ages of 14 and 25 in the UK. Many wish to lead independent lives but a new report shows help varies widely, and that many young people and their parents feel isolated and unsupported in the move from child to adult services. Jane discusses the issues with her guests, including one mother whose son was offered a nursing home with elderly people when he wanted to leave home at 18. It's 'Stir-up Sunday' at the end of this week, when it is traditional for people to make their Christmas puddings. We explore the history of the pudding that has its roots in medieval times and was originally made with meat, and food writer Rose Prince will be making a version with an interesting modern twist.