Council tax revaluation 'delay'

New council tax bands had been expected to start in April 2007

BBC Radio 4's Money Box was broadcast on Saturday, 17 September, 2005 at 1204 BST.

The programme was repeated on Sunday, 18 September, 2005 at 2102 BST.

Programme transcript

Ministers are considering postponing the revaluation of homes for council tax in England after fears of a political backlash, it has been reported.

A similar exercise in Wales this year led to a third of households with higher bills, and fewer than one in 10 had a reduction.

The revaluation of 22 million homes in England has already begun, and new council tax bands were expected to start in April 2007.

We asked the BBC's Local Government Correspondent John Andrew if the ministers are planning to scrap the controversial revaluation.

Further information:

Council tax revaluation 'delay'

Q&A: Council Tax revaluation

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Inquiry call on protection insurance

PPI is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA)

Citizens Advice has called for an investigation into payment protection insurance (PPI) which it believes is being mis-sold to consumers.

PPI is sold to people with loans or credit cards to cover their payments should they fall ill or lose their job. The industry is worth £5bn a year.

But Citizens Advice says people are often sold inappropriate policies which add to their debts and often do not pay up if they fall on hard times.

The charity is lodging a "super complaint" with the Office of Fair Trading. It has also called for a Treasury Select Committee inquiry and action from the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

Defending the industry, the British Bankers' Association said PPI is completely voluntary and is regulated by the FSA.

Money Box heard the experience of one woman whose policy failed her, and spoke to Peter Tutton, Social Policy Officer at Citizens Advice.

Further information:

Debt insurance being mis-sold

Inside Money: The Protection Racket

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'Little competitive pressure' on store cards

The commission said consumer sensitivity to APR levels is low

Store card holders are being overcharged by up to £100m a year, the Competition Commission has said.

The commission identified some 70 retailers operating cards, and said most APRs were "clustered around the 30% mark".

It blamed the high rates on a lack of competitive pressure and has suggested a number of possible remedies, including APR warnings on statements.

However, the Finance and Leasing Association - whose members include store card providers - said the APRs were becoming more competitive.

Louise Greenwood reported.

Further information:

Store card holders overcharged

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Inflation at nine year high

The BBC's Evan Davis gives his view on inflation

Inflation is at its highest level for nine years according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics.

In the year to August, the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), rose by 2.4%, up from 2.3% in July.

The CPI is the main UK measure of inflation and forms the basis for the government's inflation target.

What does this mean for the economy? What is driving inflation? And what effect could it have on interest rates?

We put these questions to the BBC's Economics Editor Evan Davies.

Further information:

Consumer spending remains flat

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Stakeholder savings push begins

Money Box speaks to the Economic Secretary about the campaign

The government has begun advertising its low-cost stakeholder savings products six months after they first went on sale.

Television adverts, leaflets in Post Offices and a dedicated website have all been designed to raise awareness and encourage saving.

But why the need for a campaign now? How well have they been selling?

We asked Chris Kenny, Director of Life and Pensions at the ABI, and spoke to Economic Secretary to the Treasury Ivan Lewis about the campaign.

Further information:

Sell simple products, insurers told

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Midshires bank branches to close

Amicus union has been told there will be no compulsory redundancies

High street bank Birmingham Midshires is to close 48 out of its 67 branches by March 2006, and the rest will become Halifax outlets.

The bank said the decision was part of its strategy to become the UK's leading direct mortgage and savings provider.

Any customers who still require branch access will be able to use any Halifax and Bank of Scotland outlet instead.

The bank said it would not close any branch where it is the only banking provider in town.

We spoke to Birmingham Midshires Managing Director Nigel Stockton about the closures.

Further information:

High Street bank name disappears

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Legal threat on tax credits

Charities are concerned families are being pushed into poverty

The government could face legal action unless it changes the way it recovers overpayments from tax credit claimants.

Campaign group Child Poverty Action Group (Cpag) says the Revenue's policy of automatically recovering overpayments is illegal.

Cpag wants the Revenue to give claimants a chance to say why an overpayment should not be recovered.

Further information:

Threat over tax credit payments

External links and helplines

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Presenter: Paul Lewis
Producer: Jessica Laugharne
Reporter: Louise Greenwood