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Woman's Hour

The cost of being single, Zara Aleena's murder & probation service failings, menopause and the workplace

Woman's Hour

BBC

Society & Culture, Health & Fitness, Personal Journals

4.22.9K Ratings

🗓️ 24 January 2023

⏱️ 57 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

An independent review into Zara Aleena's murder found a catalogue of errors by the probation service. HM Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell who conducted the review joins Nuala McGovern along with Zara Aleena's aunt Farah Naz. According to new research being single comes at a price. Single people pay, on average, £860 a month more than people living in couples. So why does it cost an extra £10k per year to live as a single person? And is the independence and freedom that some single people feel worth the price tag? Nicola Slawson is a journalist and founder of The Single Supplement. There's been a long running campaign for working women going through the menopause to get better protection. This morning the government has announced it won't make the menopause a protected characteristic, in the same way things like age and sex are - despite a recommendation from MPs that it should be. The government is commissioning more research into the subject, and cheaper and better access to HRT. But is this enough? Reporter Melanie Abbott gives us the full details of the government's response to calls for more protection. And campaigner Helen Garlick from Henpicked tells us she is calling for more action. A new study will examine the disproportionate number of female teachers developing asbestos related diseases. Backed by teaching unions, it’s hoped the findings will put more pressure on the government to take action on asbestos in school buildings. Nuala will be talking to Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, and one woman who lost her mother – a teacher for many years - to asbestos related lung cancer, mesothelioma. Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Lucinda Montefiore

Transcript

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0:00.0

BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts.

0:04.8

Hello, this is Nulam Agavren and you're listening to the Woman's Hour podcast.

0:09.0

You're very welcome to the program.

0:10.8

Good to have you with us this morning.

0:12.4

Well, we are going to revisit a very sad story.

0:16.0

A young woman, Zara Alina, was murdered by Jordan McSweeney when he was on probation

0:20.9

on her breach three mandatory supervision appointments.

0:24.4

Our view was ordered following Zara's death to try and understand how McSweeney was

0:29.0

in a position to walk the streets freely and carry out this horrific crime.

0:33.2

And also, how a man with his criminal history was deemed medium-risk.

0:38.1

So, we're going to bring you the findings and speak to Alina's and Farah Naz, who's

0:41.9

here with us to get her reaction.

0:44.2

And she is joined by HM Chief Inspector of probation, Justin Russell, that's coming up

0:49.2

in just a moment.

0:50.8

Also, did you see the analysis that said single people are forced to spend 860 pounds

0:58.4

more a month on the cost of living than those in couples?

1:01.7

So we're looking at more than 10,000 pounds per year.

1:05.6

Now I'm sure there are many single people among us that think being single is actually worth

1:11.3

a premium.

1:12.3

But 10k is it worth that?

1:14.7

Well I want to hear your stories on where you see the difference to those in a couple

1:19.0

and is it a price you're willing to pay.

...

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