You and Yours

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Consumer

BBC Radio 4 FM

You and Yours: Gambling inquest, Libraries, Power of Attorney

18/03/2022

Gambling inquest, Libraries, Power of Attorney

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, Gambling inquest, Libraries, Power of Attorney

Inquest into gambling addict's death. Libraries' uncertain future. Power of Attorney.

The  parents of a young gambling addict on the inquest into their son's death. Why libraries still face an uncertain future. Lasting Power of Attorney delays.

In the next few weeks the Government is expected to set out how it will reform gambling laws.  It's been a long time coming - the White Paper with all the detail keeps getting pushed back. It's now likely to be published in May. We speak to Charles and Liz Ritchie who've been campaigning for years for an overhaul of the current legislation. In 2017, their Jack, a gambling addict, took his own life. Jack was 24 and working as an English teacher in Vietnam when he died. Their son began betting on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals when he was 17 and still at school. Later he gambled on online.  Earlier this month an inquest into his death found that gambling had been a contributory factor in his suicide.

Years of council cuts have taken a terrible toll on libraries. Hundreds have closed or been handed over to voluntary groups and many continue to face an uncertain future. But one national library organisation has said the system used to measure the performance and popularity of libraries is not "fit for purpose" and should be replaced. Our reporter, Bob Walker goes to Nottingham where a number of libraries are under threat.

We revisit complaints about the Office of the Public Guardian which deals with Power of Attorney applications. Lasting Power of Attorney gives a relative or trusted friend control over your financial affairs, in anticipation that you may lose capacity to make those decisions yourself. We report on delays of up to a year with processing applications. We speak to Steve Reed, the Shadow Justice Secretary and Sheree Green from the Law Society. The Office of Public Guardian says they've hired more staff to deal with the delays and are working to make the system quicker, simpler to use and secure from fraud.


Presenter: Peter White
Producer: Tara Holmes

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

You and Yours

Gambling inquest, Libraries, Power of Attorney

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4