Home Information Packs

BBC Radio 4's Money Box Saturday 15 April, 1204 BST Sunday 16 April, 2102 BST On Radio 4 and online Programme transcript

The government has set out a timetable for making Home Information Packs (HIPs) compulsory by 1 June 2007.

From that date all home owners in England and Wales will need to arrange for a pack to be prepared before putting their homes up for sale.

The government believes it will make the buying and selling process easier and cheaper.

On Money Box on Saturday we spoke to Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper and Conservative housing spokesman Michael Gove about the introduction of the packs.

And we were joined by Nick Salmon an estate agent representing Splinta (Sellers' Pack Law Is Not The Answer), and Paul Broadhead, deputy director-general at the Association of HIP Providers.

Have Your Say: Home 'seller packs'

Further information:

December 2005: Concerns over home inspectors

November 2005: Start date for home seller packs

External links and helplines

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Bankruptcy alternative

Being threatened with bankruptcy can be very frightening

The number of people taking out Individual Voluntary Arrangements to avoid bankruptcy is rising and the law is changing to make it easier to set them up.

But there are concerns about their sudden popularity and the way they are being sold, as Louise Greenwood reported.

Further information:

Concern over growth of IVAs

Pain relief for bankrupts

Dealing with debtors

External links and helplines

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Agent Million

The identity of Agent Million is always a closely guarded secret

Twenty three million people hold premium bonds in the hope of winning a prize from the monthly draw.

If you are lucky enough to win you will usually be told by a letter through the post.

But if you have hit the million pound jackpot, it will not be the postman who delivers the good news, as Jessica Laugharne found out.

Further information:

External links and helplines

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Saving energy

The chancellor announced an extra £50m for micro-generation

One of the less noticed parts of the Budget was new money to support energy efficiency.

We spoke to Liz Reason, an energy and climate change specialist who lives in one of the UK's most energy efficient homes.

Further information:

How green was Brown's Budget?

External links and helplines

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Producer: Jennifer Clarke
Presenter: Paul Lewis
Reporters: Louise Greenwood and Jessica Laugharne