You and Yours - 23/10/2008

Presented by Winifred Robinson. Stephen Alambritas of the Federation of Small Businesses talks about the impact of the economic downturn. Investigating the government's initiative to help elderly and vulnerable people to cut their energy bills. With more places now out of bounds for the smoker, the writer and comedian Steve Punt considers the potential for the development of 'smoking tourism' as a niche market. Increasing numbers of people are being made redundant, and unemployment now stands at 1.8 million. We speak to an expectant mother who, until recently, was a mortgage broker. Peter White talks to Phil Hope MP about his new role as care minister. The programme examines what people should expect from their employer and the government if they are laid of, what their legal entitlements are and what financial support they should be given.