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Programme introduced by Tony Francis. The first film report from Rob Golding concerns job losses in the Midlands. In the last three years half a million jobs have been lost in the region. The question is now being asked: are Midlands firms actively running down businesses to enable them to move abroad where labour costs are cheaper and regulatory controls lesser. We open with shots of Meridian workers from Ilkeston in a pub. The have been told that their textile factory is closing despite the fact that Meridian, which is part of Courtaulds, is said to be doing well. We see inside the factory with women using sewing machines. Graphics are used to compare wage costs around the world.
In the past four years Courtaulds have closed 14 factories in the East Midlands but expanded abroad. Graphic statement from Courtaulds. Golding chats to workers in the pub who have heard that a factory is being set up in Portugal. Golding then talks to Andrew Nickson of the University of Birmingham and Frank Gaffikin of the Trade Union Resource Centre who have written a report about the phenomenon. The conclusion of their study of the top ten West Midlands firms is that they put profits above the people they relied upon to establish themselves. Graphics show the change in overseas workforces over time. Interview with the regional director of the CBI, Kevin Hawkins, who defends the firms who are moving abroad. We then see shots of the Tube Investments (TI) factory at Aston in Birmingham being demolished and a b/w still of the J.Clarke and Co. factory at Arnold in Nottingham (a Courtaulds factory where goods from Morocco arrive for inspection and packing) and brief shots of overseas workers. The item ends with more scenes showing the soon to be redundant Meridian workers in the pub in Ilkeston.
Back in the studio Golding introduces the new Mood of the Midlands feature in which selected viewers can vote live on issues in the programme using their home-link computer keyboards. Next in the Counterpoint consumer spot, Allister Craddock reports on a type of loft insulation sold under the brand Print-sulate. The material is made from recycled newspapers and was invented by David Willis and sold by Bowray Products. We see Willis demonstrating his product (filmed from a television monitor). Allister Craddock tests the material with Nottingham Trading Standards and finds that it easily catches fire. He then reports that Bowray have ceased trading and anyone who has this material in their loft should remove it.
Next on film, Rob Golding meets Linda Lancashire from Kirkby-in-Ashfield who works as a clairvoyant. Golding visits Linda at home and chats about her thriving business and her use of tarot cards. Golding also meets factory owner Malcolm Noone who uses a clairvoyant to make business decisions. Before the end credits there is a gap in the recording where the Mood of the Midlands result was added live.
Production Team: Allister Craddock; Diana East; Dorothy Friend; Elaine Roberts; Catherine Sloyan; Christine Turner
Film Camera: Kevin Latimer; Ian Hollands
Film Sound: Barry Pritchard; Mike Clayton
Film Editor: Peter Spenceley
Graphics: Dave Beeson; Graham Garside
Studio Director: Steve Turner
Film Directors: Norman Hull; Richard Key
Executive Producer: David Gerrard
Editor: George Mitchell
Production number 3592/84.