Customer Water Panels, Consumer Spending, Fraud Minister

Available for over a year

Last year, consumer satisfaction with the UK's water companies hit a 13-year low. As a result, the Consumer Council for Water has started holding consumer panels across the country to ensure that community members get to directly ask the water companies about things like cost, poor service and sewage treatment. We’ll hear from some panel members that have already had their say. This week some of the first data has emerged to show that consumer sentiment is being hit by the war in Iran. The S&P Global UK consumer sentiment index fell to a 14-month low in March. It showed that household finances and current finances had both declined, but perhaps more worryingly its index that tracks our future finances hit a 27-month low. The City of London police estimates that around 75% of fraud in the UK has an overseas element. That’s why, over the last few days, delegates from around the world have been at the United Nations Global Fraud Summit in Vienna. Our reporter Shari Vahl hears from Lord Hanson of Flint, the UK's fraud minister, about what is being done to stop international operations like scam factories, romance fraud and investment scams. Small local abattoirs have been closing in huge numbers over the last few years. It could have a large impact on our food system, with 60% of farmers surveyed by the Sustainable Food Trust saying they wouldn't be profitable without these local abattoirs. And, Costa Coffee is a fixture of UK high streets and services, with over 2750 branches. However, despite being the largest coffee chain in the UK, its financial results have been somewhat mixed over the last few years. It is about to open its 400th drive through next week, but will this strategy change its fortunes? PRESENTER: WINIFRED ROBINSON PRODUCER: CHARLIE FILMER-COURT