This episode of Calendar Commentary covers the budget introduced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont in 1992, more specifically focusing in the Yorkshire are and the affect it will have on local businesses, workers, and pensioners. This episode of Calendar Commentary begins with Richard Whiteley in the studio introducing the new budget that will be presented the following week by chancellor Norman Lamont. Whiteley then notes that the show has been interviewing individuals in the...

This episode of Calendar Commentary covers the budget introduced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont in 1992, more specifically focusing in the Yorkshire are and the affect it will have on local businesses, workers, and pensioners. This episode of Calendar Commentary begins with Richard Whiteley in the studio introducing the new budget that will be presented the following week by chancellor Norman Lamont. Whiteley then notes that the show has been interviewing individuals in the local area about what it is they want from the chancellor and these points will then be put to a panel of MPs. Richard Whiteley introduces the MPs, first is Cecil Parkinson (Conservative MP for Hertsemere, former cabinet minister and party chairman), then Stuart Randle (Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull West, Labour front bench spokesmen on home affairs), and David Bellotti (Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne) who is late to appear but joins in one of the later segments. The first report of the episode is then shown, it's narrated by Peter McNerney who has been speaking to businesses in north and south Yorkshire about their opinions on the new budget. One example is Mike McCallum who speaks on the need for the chancellors help specifically within York. Another example is West Riding Hats in Barnsley (a company which makes promotional hats which rapidly go out of fashion in a recession), they state a hope for the budget to kickstart the economy. The show then returns back to Richard Whiteley who is joined in the studio by Parkinson and Randle to see what they would do in this position and what amendments they would suggest, both MPs agree with what the individuals in the report were stating. Whiteley then introduces the new segment of this episode, income tax. There is a report from the evening the episode was aired that is a collection of interviews from Leeds. All the people interviewed offered differing views on what they would wish the budget to be split up into but the majority said they would rather it go into their own pockets. The host then asks Cecil Parkinson, Stuart Randle, and David Bellotti on their opinions on cutting income tax, investment, and industry. This segment then comes to a close and the topic of jobs comes into fruition, Whiteley notes that 2.5 million people are out of work in 1992 and spikes the discussion of hypothetical help the chancellor could give to this problem. There is an interview conducted with an ex-teacher from Lincoln called Kevin Wightman, Wightman was made redundant a little over a year of this episode being filmed and he states in his interview that he believes neither the Conservatives or Labour party could help with this. Richard Whiteley then asks the panels views on this outlook and if they believe there is truth to it, Bellotti believed a new job program needs to be introduced but Parkinson and Randle are of the agreement it is a negative side effect of the recession and needs to be amended. The next segment of this episode focuses on the difficulties facings pensioners financially, there is a recorded report from Sheffield of the Sheffield pensioners action group who are out on the streets handing out leaflets focusing on the lack of financial support they are receiving. Arthur and Dorothy Pease state they would wish to see the chancellor changing to pension to be geared more towards the average wage. The segment is wrapped up by discussing what the MPs would do to handle this if their parties got the vote, all three agree it is an area that needs help immediately. For the final segment of the episode Richard Whiteley notes that schools and colleges in Scunthorpe are making competitions to see what teenager can create the best budget. North Lindsey College chose a winner and recordings of this event are show in the episode. With DAVID BELLOTTI MP, CECIL PARKINSON MP, STUART RANDALL MP Graphics DAVE HARTLEY VT Editors BARBARA YOUNG & NEIL DORMAN Research GAYNOR BARNES Technical Supervisor BERT WHIPPY Production Assistant LEAH PUPLETT Reporter PETER MCNERNEY Director ALAN RODMAN Producer CHARLOTTE MILLIGAN Political Editors RICHARD WHITELEY AND GEOFF DRUETT Executive Producer RICHARD GREGORY YTV 1992