Police – Who Pays the Bill? A new row between A 30-minute news feature, hosted by Richard Whiteley and Geoff Druett. This episode is separated into three main news segments. The first segment, title ‘Police – Who Pays the Bill?’ explores a new dispute between the government and county councils on which group should pay for the police operations utilized during the Miners' Strike. Allen McKay MP (Barnsley, Penistone) and Andrew Stewart MP (Sherwood) feature as guest talkers in this...

Police – Who Pays the Bill? A new row between A 30-minute news feature, hosted by Richard Whiteley and Geoff Druett. This episode is separated into three main news segments. The first segment, title ‘Police – Who Pays the Bill?’ explores a new dispute between the government and county councils on which group should pay for the police operations utilized during the Miners' Strike. Allen McKay MP (Barnsley, Penistone) and Andrew Stewart MP (Sherwood) feature as guest talkers in this segment to discuss this further. The second segment, ‘Chesterfield – New Members’ discusses Labour MP Tony Benn’s success in Parliament, and the increase in memberships in the Chesterfield Labour Party as a result. In a segment that includes interviews with party members and the general public alike, Tory anxieties around the increase in memberships is discussed, as well as the reasons in which people find themselves now drawn to Labour as a political party. Finally, the segment titled ‘Sir Keith – End of Term Report’ discusses the present issues that Education Secretary Sir Keith Joseph faces. Sir Keith gives an interview with Geoff Druett to discuss his idea to substitute the O-Level system and replace it in favour of a ‘Certificate of Secondary Education’, that he believes will provide more clarity to the curriculum and produce higher motivation and success rates. Police – Who Pays the Bill? A new row between the government and county councils has emerged; a direct result of vast police operations to handle mass picketing by striking miners. Some estimate the total cost of policing as around £100 million. The three councils most affected (South Yorkshire, Nottingham, Derbyshire), are not pleased with the rates they have to pay. Leon Britten, Home Secretary, is willing to pay the bill, minus the product of a penny rate; counties, however, do not want to pay any percentage of the bill. Furthermore, outside forces that sent police into the counties affected by striking, are not being paid at all. So who should pay? Allen McKay (MP for Barnsley and Penistone) and Andrew Stewart (MP for Sherwood) discuss this in the studio with Whiteley. McKay believes that the government should pay this bill, without doubt, as the strikes are government precipitated. He expresses concerns that the remainder of the bill that counties have left to pay could lead to rate-capping procedures. He also shares the idea at multiple points that this money being charged to counties over the strikes could easily be paid by the government, and money left can then be used to benefit the community through projects such as preventing school closures and developing hospitals. Stewart believes that this bill should be shared between the central government and local authorities; he does not believe that this expenditure will be examined for rate-capping purposes, but will instead be exempt. In terms of county payments for policing systems, he argues that democracy has a high price, and this price has to be paid in repercussions for the strikes. He examines the economic figure from a wider perspective, and believes that the democratic right for people to go to work, who wish to, is not a high price to pay. Chesterfield – New Members: Tony Benn made a widely predicted return to Westminster on March 1st as Labour MP for Chesterfield, with a majority of over 6000. During the by-election, Chesterfield became a centre of attention, but political activity has only just begun there. This segment is filmed at various locations in Chesterfield, with a range of interviews with the public taking place throughout. Tom Vallins, the Secretary of Chesterfield Labour Party, discusses the wide-ranging demographics of new members. Interviews with members of the public discuss how party policies align with long-held views , the process of joining the party , and an experience of meeting Tony Benn. Chesterfield Conservative party has also seen an increase in members. Councillor Les McCulloch (Tory leader, Chesterfield Council) worries about the types of people that would have joined; suggests that there could be an infiltration under a political name in order to cause trouble from within. Chesterfield liberals are at a loss to explain labour membership increases, but believe they can do the same. Ken Aveleigh (Secretary, Chesterfield liberals) believes that the people for their party are out there, provided they are reached out to through advertisement of the party, and sought out. He is generally unsure as to why labour has had such success in short time. Tony Benn has no doubts about why people are joining; Chesterfield is in the middle of the Miner’s strikes since the by-election. Benn believes that if you put a sincere argument across with passion and commitment, it generates a wider appeal. Benn argues that the roots of the Labour reform came from older generations that wanted to hear a socialist message again, a union between the younger generation, and the older. Sir Keith – End of Term Report: This segment sees a return back to the Calendar Commentary studio. Sir Keith Joseph, the Education Secretary, still faces two main problems. The first being the Teachers Dispute; teachers have finally won arbitration, having rejected a 4.5% pay rise. Any extra money to teachers will have to come from existing local authority budgets, which could result in larger classrooms, less teachers, and a cut in equipment. The second issue lies in the success, or otherwise, of Keith’s new proposals to replace O-Levels. They are to be replaced by a singular exam to obtain a ‘Certificate of Secondary Education’, as well as to be governed by a new grading system, and allow a choice between papers depending on ability. In conversation with Geoff Druett, he argues that the current system doesn’t test what young people understand or can do, but judges whether they come in the top percentage of ability.; he wishes to shift to a system of testing the actual abilities of students. He believes that the new exam system will stretch the average and able, and will motivate more students and teachers. Teachers will also have a clearer view of what is needed for student success, and more clarity of expectations. Critics have compared this to ‘cosmetic tinkering’ with the system, since grades will still be equivalent to those of the O-Levels, and that what is needed for changing the system is more funding. Sir Keith disagrees, and believes the main focus should be towards clarity-based curriculums to make the system work better. Presented by RICHARD WHITELEY, GEOFF DRUETT Featured SIR KEITH JOSEPH MP, ALLEN McKAY MP, ANDREW STEWART MP Film Sound DAVID PAPE Film Cameraman ALAN WILSON Film Editor MIKE EUSTACE Film Director GARY WARD Editorial Assistant ALI RASHID Director DEREK GOODALL Executive Producer GRAHAM IRONSIDE Yorkshire Television Ltd. 1984. YORKSHIRE TELEVISION Production the government and county councils has emerged; a direct result of vast police operations to handle mass picketing by striking miners. Some estimate the total cost of policing as around £100 million. The three councils most affected (South Yorkshire, Nottingham, Derbyshire), are not pleased with the rates they have to pay. Leon Britten, Home Secretary, is willing to pay the bill, minus the product of a penny rate; counties, however, do not want to pay any percentage of the bill. Furthermore, outside forces that sent police into the counties affected by striking, are not being paid at all. So who should pay? Allen McKay (MP for Barnsley and Penistone) and Andrew Stewart (MP for Sherwood) discuss this in the studio with Whiteley. McKay believes that the government should pay this bill, without doubt, as the strikes are government precipitated. He expresses concerns that the remainder of the bill that counties have left to pay could lead to rate-capping procedures. He also shares the idea at multiple points that this money being charged to counties over the strikes could easily be paid by the government, and money left can then be used to benefit the community through projects such as preventing school closures and developing hospitals. Stewart believes that this bill should be shared between the central government and local authorities; he does not believe that this expenditure will be examined for rate-capping purposes, but will instead be exempt. In terms of county payments for policing systems, he argues that democracy has a high price, and this price has to be paid in repercussions for the strikes. He examines the economic figure from a wider perspective, and believes that the democratic right for people to go to work, who wish to, is not a high price to pay. Chesterfield – New Members: Tony Benn made a widely predicted return to Westminster on March 1st as Labour MP for Chesterfield, with a majority of over 6000. During the by-election, Chesterfield became a centre of attention, but political activity has only just begun there. This segment is filmed at various locations in Chesterfield, with a range of interviews with the public taking place throughout. Tom Vallins, the Secretary of Chesterfield Labour Party, discusses the wide-ranging demographics of new members. Interviews with members of the public discuss how party policies align with long-held views , the process of joining the party , and an experience of meeting Tony Benn. Chesterfield Conservative party has also seen an increase in members. Councillor Les McCulloch (Tory leader, Chesterfield Council) worries about the types of people that would have joined; suggests that there could be an infiltration under a political name in order to cause trouble from within. Chesterfield liberals are at a loss to explain labour membership increases, but believe they can do the same. Ken Aveleigh (Secretary, Chesterfield liberals) believes that the people for their party are out there, provided they are reached out to through advertisement of the party, and sought out. He is generally unsure as to why labour has had such success in short time. Tony Benn has no doubts about why people are joining; Chesterfield is in the middle of the Miner’s strikes since the by-election. Benn believes that if you put a sincere argument across with passion and commitment, it generates a wider appeal. Benn argues that the roots of the Labour reform came from older generations that wanted to hear a socialist message again, a union between the younger generation, and the older. Sir Keith – End of Term Report: This segment sees a return back to the Calendar Commentary studio. Sir Keith Joseph, the Education Secretary, still faces two main problems. The first being the Teachers Dispute; teachers have finally won arbitration, having rejected a 4.5% pay rise. Any extra money to teachers will have to come from existing local authority budgets, which could result in larger classrooms, less teachers, and a cut in equipment. The second issue lies in the success, or otherwise, of Keith’s new proposals to replace O-Levels. They are to be replaced by a singular exam to obtain a ‘Certificate of Secondary Education’, as well as to be governed by a new grading system, and allow a choice between papers depending on ability. In conversation with Geoff Druett, he argues that the current system doesn’t test what young people understand or can do, but judges whether they come in the top percentage of ability.; he wishes to shift to a system of testing the actual abilities of students. He believes that the new exam system will stretch the average and able, and will motivate more students and teachers. Teachers will also have a clearer view of what is needed for student success, and more clarity of expectations. Critics have compared this to ‘cosmetic tinkering’ with the system, since grades will still be equivalent to those of the O-Levels, and that what is needed for changing the system is more funding. Sir Keith disagrees, and believes the main focus should be towards clarity-based curriculums to make the system work better.