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Episode details

Radio 4,04 May 2018,45 mins

Council Houses, Valspar Paint, Employment Support Allowance

You and Yours

Available for over a year

Disabled people say they're having to fight at appeals to get their benefits reinstated. And there's a high success rate - over 60% win their Employment Support Allowance tribunal. That contrasts with the government's own appeal system - mandatory reconsideration - where only 12% of disabled people win. Is the Department for Work and Pensions assessing people properly and is their own appeal process fit for purpose? People who painted their walls with Valspar paint from B&Q say their walls are smelling of cat wee and the stench is getting worse now the weather is getting warm. We reported on this last year but customers are still reporting the bad smells. Historian John Boughton talks to Peter about the history of council housing with his new book, Municipal Dreams. Retailers like Amazon and Levi's are using artificial intelligence to create online virtual stylists. Our reporter Melanie Abbott speaks to the people behind the technology to find out if it really works. Wales is the third best nation in the world at recycling. But it comes at a price for consumers - more councils in Wales are using fines and extra charges to encourage residents to recycle more. But are residents happy about it? Presenter: Peter White Producer: Lydia Thomas.

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