Woman's Hour - 26/11/2008

Presented by Jenni Murray. What impact has greater gender equality had on the types of issues debated by politicians and the way in which those debates are conducted? To discuss what Westminster can learn from the devolved assemblies, Jenni is joined by Christine Chapman of the Welsh Assembly, Angela Constance from the Scottish Parliament, and columnist Julia Hartley-Brewer. One in ten young people in the UK are affected by mental health problems, yet two new reports say children are still not getting the help they need quickly enough. Jenni talks to a father and daughter about their experience of mental health services and is joined in the studio by Children's Minister Delyth Morgan and Benita Refson from the charity The Place2Be, which provides school-based counselling. Sales of support underwear are up and it seems more and more women are embracing big pants. But do they work? Jenni talks to control knicker addict Sarah Vine and sceptic Lowri Turner. Fiona Clampin and Dr Angelique Richardson from Exeter University meet guide Sue Clarke from the Hardy Society on the old road towards Puddletown to discuss the female characters from Hardy novels that would have walked there. Including drama: Aubrey's Brief Lives.