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Dispatches2015

Episodes

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    E01 How to Blow Your Pension

    Jan 12, 2015 · 45m

    Changes to the rules regarding private pension withdrawals mean some retirees are planning on raiding their pension pot to take luxury holidays or pay of debts. Michael Buerk asks if the state will be left to pick up the pieces.

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    E02 Low Pay Britain

    Jan 19, 2015 · 45m

    As parties launch their General Election campaigns focusing on Britain's economic recovery, Morland Sanders investigates the reality of the workforce today and shows how major companies are saving money on wages and taxes.

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    E03 The Great Car Con

    Jan 26, 2015 · 45m

    British motorists were told that diesel would be the cheap, environmentally friendly fuel of the future but growing concerns over harmful emissions and the reliability of emissions tests have led to calls for surcharges or bans on diesels.

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    E04 Secrets Of The Parking Wardens

    Feb 16, 2015 · 45m

    The number of parking tickets issues by private firms has rocketed since 2007, with more than 2.5 million issued annually. Reporter Antony Barnett goes undercover to investigate why complaints against them have also grown.

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    E05 Politicians for Hire II

    Feb 23, 2015 · 45m

    Dispatches goes undercover once again to expose the cash-for-access scandal of MP's accepting fees to provide access to government. This time two former Foreign Secretaries are the target of the sting operation.

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    E06 Britain's Benefits Crackdown

    Mar 2, 2015 · 45m

    The Government has vowed to clampdown on benefit claimants and has introduced a new system of sanctions against those it thinks are abusing the system. Liz MacKean meets those hit by the new penalties.

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    E07 Benefits Britain: Universal Credit

    Mar 9, 2015 · 45m

    The Government is introducing the new Universal Credit in the biggest welfare reform in a generation. It is claimed the new benefit is helping people back into work, Dispatches investigates claims the new system is a shambles.

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    E08 Britain's Defence Squeeze

    Mar 16, 2015 · 45m

    In the wake of significant cuts to the UK defence budget, Morland Sanders asks if the nation is still able to defend itself adequately in the face of a growing range of threats.

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    E09 How to Buy a Meeting with a Minister

    Mar 23, 2015 · 45m

    In the run-up to the General Election, Antony Barnett presents an undercover investigation into the way in which donors can pay to attend social functions with government ministers to discuss "issues".

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    E10 How Safe Are Our Planes?

    Apr 1, 2015 · 45m

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    E11 The Secrets of Sports Direct

    Apr 27, 2015 · 45m

    How does Sports Direct sell it's trainers and clothing so cheaply? Harry Wallop examines the hidden costs behind the success of the high street store who have been accused of "reprehensible" business practices.

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    E12 Trains: Are You Paying Too Much?

    Jun 1, 2015 · 45m

    As rail passenger numbers hit an all-time high Morland Sanders goes undercover inside one of Britain's biggest rail operators to examine the key problems of ticket pricing, overcrowding and compensation claims.

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    E13 Where to Save Your Money

    Jun 8, 2015 · 45m

    Interest rates are at their lowest in 300 years, Channel 4 News Business Editor Siobhan Kennedy reports on the problems facing savers and examines some of the options available to them in a confusing market.

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    E14 Exams: Cheating the System?

    Jun 15, 2015 · 45m

    Seyi Rhodes examines how some schools and pupils are coping with the stresses and strains of the exam system by bending the rules. He speaks to 'whistleblowers' within the education sector who reveal some of the tactics used.

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    E15 The Great British Property Divide

    Jun 22, 2015 · 45m

    From million-pound flats to so-called "poor doors", Morland Sanders investigates how rising house prices can transform communities and the impact the right-to-buy law will have on the property divide.

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    E16 Salt: Are You Eating Too Much?

    Jun 29, 2015 · 45m

    Amidst calls to reduce the amount of salt consumed in our diets, reporter Tazeen Ahmad uncovers disturbing evidence that the labelling of salt content on our food is far from always accurate

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    E17 Kids in Crisis

    Jul 1, 2015 · 45m

    In this hour-long special report Dispatches meets with four families who all have children who suffer from mental illness. The lack of local residential care means these youngsters have to be separated from their loved ones to seek help.

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    E18 How Councils Blow Your Millions

    Jul 6, 2015 · 45m

    Dispatches reporter Antony Barnett investigates the secretive deals that British local authorities have done with banks around the world that are costing the UK taxpayer millions of pounds.

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    E19 Pensions and the Price of Growing Old

    Jul 13, 2015 · 45m

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    E20 Escape from Isis

    Jul 15, 2015 · 45m

    In this one-hour special report Dispatches reveals the brutal regime millions of women face when living under the control of the so-called Islamic State and meets a dedicated team of men risking their lives to free them.

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    E21 Hunted: Gay and Afraid

    Jul 23, 2015 · 45m

    Dispatches investigates the well-funded global network of groups that are supporting a new wave of anti-gay legislation around the world including America's "World Congress of Families".

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    E22 Britain's Benefits Experiment

    Nov 5, 2015 · 45m

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    E23 Aldi's Supermarket Secrets

    Nov 9, 2015 · 45m

    Discount supermarket chain Aldi continues to go from strength to strength, recently overtaking Waitrose as Britain's sixth biggest supermarket. Morland Sanders goes undercover to see if quality and service are suffering.

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    E24 How to Stop Your Nuisance Calls II

    Nov 16, 2015

    Millions of people are plagued by nuisance callers trying to sell them things that they don't want, Dispatches goes undercover to investigate the cold calling industry and meets the people fighting back.

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    E25 Britain's Nightmare New Homes

    Nov 16, 2015

    With the Government pledging to build a million new homes across Britain by 2020, Seyi Rhodes investigates if the rush to build so many new houses is having an impact on the quality these homes.

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    E26 Low Pay Britain II

    Dec 7, 2015

    The Government has promised to help create 3 million apprenticeships alongside a new national living wage. Dispatches investigates claims that some employers are wasting public money and abusing the trust placed in them.

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    E27 How the Monarchy Can Make You Millions

    Dec 14, 2015

    Around 800 companies hold royal warrants and it is thought that they make an extra £4 billion a year because of it. With the stakes so high, Antony Barnett examines the system of granting royal approval.

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    E28 The Children Who Beat Ebola

    Dec 22, 2015

    The remarkable story of five extraordinary children in Sierra Leone who fought off the deadly Ebola virus and overcame loss and social stigma to rebuild their lives.

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