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You and Yours: Student loans, GM salmon, Gambling levy

20/06/2019

Student loans, GM salmon, Gambling levy

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, Student loans, GM salmon, Gambling levy

Genetically modified salmon is approved for production in the US and Canada.

How do you feel about the idea of genetically modified salmon? It's now licensed in the US and Canada - the first GM creature to get such approval.

From next month, hundreds of students could have their loans written off because of a change in government policy. Amended legislation will give the Department for Education the ability to clear loan debts where students have been unable to finish their courses because providers went into administration. Some students who took out student loans to fund BTEC qualifications at further education colleges were unable to complete their studies but are currently still obliged to pay back the loans.

Genetically modified salmon has been approved for production in the US and Canada. It's a first for a GM creature. The fish will be farmed in pools and will grow to twice the size of a normal salmon. The company that gained the licence claims it will be the most sustainable way to produce fish. We look at how the fish will need to be labelled for consumers, and what the arguments are for adopting it here. 

The UK's five biggest gambling firms - William Hill, Coral Ladbroke, Betfair Paddy Power, Skybet and Bet 365 - promise to pay more towards tackling problem gambling. Companies that are licensed to offer gambling activities in the UK pay a voluntary contribution towards this, around 0.1% of their profits. Last year £10million was raised. Now these companies have told the government they plan to increase their contribution to £100m, or 1% of their annual profits. It follows calls from both Conservative and Labour MPs for the industry to pay more to fund education about  and treatment of gambling addictions. How should this new money be spent?  

We know it's been a tough time for many restaurant chains in the UK. Byron, Prezzo, Cau and Jamie's Italian are a few of the brands that have had to close restaurant sites. But alongside this downturn comes a growing number of food halls opening in towns and cities, often in old historic market buildings. These offer a range of caterers under one roof and often tables for communal eating. Property agents Cushman & Wakefield expect up to 25 new food halls will open in the UK this year. 

Presented by Winifred Robinson.
Produced by Beatrice Pickup.

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