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Members Only transmitted 28 October 1990

1990 , London (Other)

Cat no. 202831

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Anglia Television current affairs programme discussing child benefit, foreign language teaching, teachers' pay, ERM and dog registration.

Bob Ledwidge reports on the announcement that child benefit shall increase from £7.25 to £8.25, but only for first-born children. Ledwidge states that the policy is a compromise between Conservative MPs that support child benefit and the far right of the party who believe it benefits the better off, but not the poor. Tony Newton, Timothy Ralston and Clare Short all give their views. Short argues that the policy doesn't benefit those most in need, the larger families. Returning to the studio, presenter Gavin Partington interviews Gillian Shepherd. Shepherd staunchly disputes Short's assertion that the announcement is a reaction to the Conservative's by-election defeat in Eastbourne. Over footage from a schoolroom, Bob Ledwidge reports that despite being in the European Community for twenty years, many British people still retain an arrogant attitude that they don't need to learn a foreign language. Interviewed outside parliament, MP for Waveney David Porter says the problem is twofold: the British people abroad still expect the foreign nationals to speak English and in business and economic terms this cannot go on. In voiceover over footage from a French school, Ledwidge notes that all French schoolchildren need to learn a foreign language from the age of seven. Porter agrees with this rule. The third feature concerns teachers' pay and conditions. Partington notes that the Education Minister has been urged by MPs from his own party to look into the subject. From the House of Commons, MP for Norwich North Patrick Thompson gives his assertion that the standard of teaching would be improved if politicians spent more time talking to senior teachers. South Norfolk MP John McGregor, disputes the accusation he only speaks to his advisory bodies. The future of A-Level exams is then discussed. Prime Minister Thatcher rebuffs Michael Lord's question over the exams being under immediate threat. The fourth story covered is the Government's announcement the UK will join the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). At Westminster John Major says it is a financial necessity but Neil Kinnock argues the membership as a political escape route. Henry Bellingham MP pushes for a referendum on the issue and Ian Stewart doubts whether the conditions are suitable for monetary union. In the Commons, Jerry Hayes MP shows his frustration at the authorities' failure to improve Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, asking that they spend locally generated money on the project. Lastly, Partington interviews Billericay MP Teresa Gorman on the RSPCA-backed policy of dog registration. Gorman staunchly disputes the policy arguing all stray or violent dogs to be put down, owners should be heavily fined for their pets' pavement defecation and that only law abiding citizens will register their dogs.

Featured Buildings

House of Commons; Princess Alexandra Hospital; Houses of Parliament

Featured Events

1990 Eastbourne By-election;

Keywords

Houses of Parliament; Westminster; Current Affairs; child benefit; foreign language teaching; education; ERM; dog registration

Background Information

The Anglia Television series "Members Only" broadcast 1981 - 1991 reporting on the region's Members of Parliament and political issues of the day. "The Eastbourne by-election, 1990 was a by-election held on 18 October 1990 for the British House of Commons constituency of Eastbourne in East Sussex. The by-election was caused by the death of the town's Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP) Ian Gow, who was killed on 30 July 1990 by a bomb placed under his car by the Provisional IRA. The result was a victory for the Liberal Democrat candidate David Bellotti, who defeated the former Conservative MP Richard Hickmet by a majority of 4,550 votes and with more than half the votes cast. The loss came as a shock to many Conservatives who had expected (not least given the circumstances under which the by-election was held, as well as the fact that it had been retained by a majority of more than 16,000 votes in 1987) that they would easily retain the seat." Wikipedia

  • Production company : Anglia Television

  • Presenter : Gavin Partington

  • Interviewer : Bob Ledwidge

  • Editor : John Shippey

  • Editor : Malcolm Allsop

  • Production company : Anglia Television

Manifestations

Members Only transmitted 28 October 1990

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