21/03/2012 Spotlight

How is the budget affecting the South West? One public sector

worker says regional pay will hit us hard. My salary will be reduced

and it will have deprived the area we are living. Welcome to Spotlight.

Also tonight, budget reaction on the streets of Bampton. Well no

change on a fuel duty keep people away from the shops or will they

spend more with the increase in personal allowances? And the serial

bigamist to have been spared jail. Public sector wages in the South

West looked to be driven down to four in line with the private

sector. Critics say it is the race to the bottom. Changes to the tax

system affecting businesses have also been unveiled. Corporation tax

will keep on coming down. Low pay it is a classic feature in our

region. This might be held with the news that personal tax allowances

will be raised. But one thing that has not changed is the rising cost

of fuel. Those are some of the headlines from the Budget today,

but what has been the reaction today? In the first of a series of

reports, Our Business Correspondent looks at what could be a crucial

change to public sector pay. The defining feature of the South

West economy is probably low pay. In seasonal industries such as

farming and tourism, low pay is for many a fact of life. It is not

surprising that civil servants here have been looking at this Budget

warily. This man works in the JobCentre and says this is not a

cheap place for him or his family to live. I would say that the cost

pressures are high in the South West, although wages are low. The

cost of living in this area is high. You need to use public transport or

your own car and house prices are high. In the UK, but gross weekly

wage is about �500, but it is lower in the West. In Devon it is about

�430. In Quorn what it is about �420. A big difference. Experts say

public sector wages in these areas are up to a 10th higher than

private sector wages. Making them more equal is meant to make it

easier to compete. If people can go to London and and �10,000 more,

then they will go to London. reflects the variations and the

cost of living. Considering wages do not reflect the house prices,

making wages low were, then less people will be able to afford

houses. This afternoon I could not find one trader in Exeter City

centre willing to comment. The charity Age Concern has welcomed

the announcement of a flat-rate pension, although it has asked for

more details. It stressed that 1.8 million retired people are living

in poverty. Our reporter has been to meet one couple in Newton Abbot

to find out what it will mean to them.

Rates used to drive buses for a living. Now he is retired, he is

still out on the road every day. He is a full-time carer for his wife.

They rely on their car to get to hospital appointments. You fill it

up, �30 a week. It is about 10 % of my income. It is difficult. I was

hoping the Chancellor would put the fuel costs down, but no luck.

will get an increase in the state pension, but with rising living

costs, any extra money will be swallowed up by other household

bills. My house is all electric and 20 % of my income goes on

electricity. Everything is electric. We get by. It is not a lavish

lifestyle. I am better off than some people, I must admit, but it

is still difficult. Both Ray and his wife had hoped for more from

the Chancellor today as a frugal lifestyle was not what they banged

on in their retirement. With unemployment to will rising, how

had businesses reacted to what the Chancellor outlined?

What any of the measures generate more customers or make it easier

for companies to expand? There is a simplified turn -- there is a

simplified tax system for companies to have a turnover of less than

�77,000 a year. Which join our reporter in Lyme Regis.

Tourism is important here and many of the people I have been speaking

to have been concerned that George Osbourne did nothing to reduce the

price of fuel. This manufacturing company in Cornwall says that he

missed an opportunity. We have about 15 lorries every date going

up and down the motorway. The cost of fuel, which had increased by

about 40% in two years, is enormous. The Chancellor outlined a number of

measures which he says are designed to help small businesses. However,

at eight Budget seminar that I attended, ice-pick to a woman who

ran -- I spoke to a woman who runs a recruitment agency. They could

have been more said or given to helping people into employment. It

is interesting what the Prince's Trust do. They are evolving more

and more and there was not a lot mentioned but regards to that.

us get some more reaction from Lyme Regis. You are concerned about

feel? Yes. With the reduction in the potential number of visitors,

if you're is important to us. you heartened by some of the things

you heard? There was good news in terms of the simplification of tax

is for smaller businesses and the reduction in corporation tax.

Hopefully that will encourage business owners to reinvest in

their businesses. So, good news and bad news. Somebody said to Dave

that things have changed financially, but their view from

here is priceless. Yesterday, if you were watching,

you would have seen a Budget wish- list from the people in Bampton.

Our reporter has been backed to find out whether it traders on the

Brook Street got what they wanted from the Chancellor.

Budget Day in Bampton. A day it went politics and Parliament do not

seem so far off. The Chancellor's decisions will hit pockets here one

Brook Street tomorrow. Top of the wish-list in rural Bampton was for

a reduction in fuel duty. We hope that beat three pence rise in

August would be overturned. That was kept quiet. It will be a

massive extra cost. What credit is that for the Chancellor here this

afternoon? I hear there is talk of simplifying the tax rules for

smaller businesses. There is also the increase in personal allowances,

so hopefully people will have more money to spend on the High Street.

Some credit and criticism as well. There does not seem to be much to

be positive about. The child benefit will not help a lot of

people. One parent earning over the threshold will lose it, but to

parents earning under the threshold will gain. We are reducing the

amount of tax for the people who are extremely wealthy. It makes no

sense. Traders here will have to wait to see exactly how this Budget

bodes for Brook Street. Our political editor has day's

events in Parliament and joins us from Westminster.

A surprising speech from the Chancellor, but surprising because

there were no surprises. There was plenty of controversy and to

discuss that we have a Labour MP and a Conservative MP. The Budget

seems to help the rich and not the poor. It isn't. No help on appeal

and for the South West, a regional play, which will be a disaster.

big story here today is the fact that 24 million people are getting

a tax Cup with this increase in the threshold. 2 million people have

been taken out of paying tax altogether. This is a major boost

for the West Country. When it comes to regional pay, no-one is going to

get a pay cut. It will be graduated over a long period of time. We need

to encourage the private sector to compete for the best talent in the

country. Should he not have done something on fuel? Fuel is a

regressive tax, but I was encouraged by the commitment to a

field stabiliser. It means we will only see rises when it is necessary.

Would Labour have really cut fuel prices? Yes. We would have cut the

VAT. Raising the tax threshold is all very well, but it is

inefficient. That is all from Westminster, but more on Sunday.

Still to come - the volunteer coastguard selected to carry the

Olympic torch. To be chosen out of all BP poor who have been nominated

is fantastic. -- all the people. And why the Olympics have already

delivered a good result for these footballers.

Devon and Cornwall Police has admitted that sending up to 180

officers to help police the Olympic events will be a stretch. On

average they will be supplying 65 officers a day to cover events in

Dorset and London. But bosses insist the local service won't be

affected. For the public in Devon and Cornwall, planning is in place

to make sure week delivered Business and -- we deliver business

as usual during the Olympics. have eight shrinking workforce as

it is. When you start taking office as a way to other locations, there

will be a minimal number of officers in Devon and Cornwall.

An investigation has found that human error was the cause of DNA

contamination which led to a Devon man being wrongly accused of rape.

19-year-old Adam Scott from Exeter was linked to the crime in

Manchester, even though he'd never visited the city. The charges were

later dropped. In a statement the forensics provider LGC says it's

taken steps to prevent further cases of contamination.

A conference featuring a former doctor who says cancer can be

treated using baking soda has been barred from using a council's

meeting hall. The event was due to take place this weekend in Totnes.

It follows an investigation by Trading Standards.

Staff at the Royal Cornwall Hospital are stressed and unhappy,

according to the latest NHS staff survey. It falls in the bottom 20%

of national rankings on staff motivation. The Trust says the

results are disappointing and it's working to improve staff engagement.

Staff at Plymouth hospitals also showed poor levels of satisfaction,

although the Trust did well on the reporting of errors and incidents.

A farmer has shot and killed a dog after a herd of rare cattle were

attacked in their field. A woman from Somerset, who dressed

as a man in order to fool a doctor into prescribing her drugs, has

been spared prison. Max Quiberon, who used to be called Emily Horne,

pretended she was her former partner. Quiberon, who is also a

convicted bigamist with seven husbands, was told she was lucky

she hadn't been sent to prison. Laura Jones was in court. Long

before the sentencing today, Max Quiberon was no stranger to the

Court of the press. These pictures are from a documentary made in 2009.

She has been found guilty of bigamy. At this point she had married five

men, but have never been divorced. Two years and two more husbands,

today at Taunton Crown Court it was not about bigamy, but fraud. She

had dressed up as her current partner to get prescriptions for

drugs. The recorder said she had come terribly close to being sent

to prison and that this would be her last chance. He also said if

she came back before a court to face any further offences of this

kind, he did not have any doubts that she would be sent straight to

prison. The former glamour model has previously spoken of finding

life difficult and so she just wants to make people happy. She

will now be electronically tagged and supervised and supported by the

probation service. A farmer has shot and killed and

dog after a herd of red cattle were attacked. The farmer says more

action is needed to control dogs. The police are calling for the

owner of the dog to come forward. This heard were in their field when

two pit-bulls got into their enclosure. When the owner got there,

and the youngest cow was been mauled. She had a huge lump of

flesh out of her cheek. It was evident that the other cows had

been attacked. Eventually, one of the dogs push shot. A vet and every

team were on seen within an hour and were able to bring the cow into

this parlour. She was operated on and received 14 stitches in her

face. This cow is very rare. Her owner is relieved she has been

saved. We are lucky. If she could not eat and drink, she would have

to be shot. It would have been a travesty. But police are

investigating the attack and are appealing for the owner of the

docks macro -- dogs to come forward. On to sport now, and just one point

from a possible 12 was gained by the South West's Football League

teams last night. Torquay United, Exeter City and Yeovil Town all

suffered defeats. Only Plymouth Argyle spared the blushes.

The hosts at the County Ground were definitely were rocking. The

leaders stretched their advantage with seven points. We have got

eight games left. It is not over. We have been down this road before,

a few of us, so the experience will stand us in good stead. Plymouth

Argyle left it late to win a point. With six minutes left, their heads

were kept above the parapet. Exeter City are on relegation row. They

are five points away from safer territory. Some life was breathed

into city, but they have to concede a third. Yeovil Town's revival

evaporated at Charlton Athletic. However, they are still well clear

of danger. Now, as promised, we meet another

of our Olympic torch bearers. One of the very first people to run

with the Olympic flame will be Dave Jackson from Lands End Coastguard

Rescue Team. He's served as a volunteer for 42 years and has been

involved in some of the most harrowing rescues that Cornwall has

ever known. Let us go through the equipment. Petr Cech all your rapes.

Whether it is maintaining equipment or turning out in the middle of the

night, Dave has spent 42 years dedicated to his volunteered role.

That means being ready to respond at all times, regardless of the

potential dangers. Over the years there have been plenty of those.

have got a man down there are helping the diver. Here, a rescue

helicopter was called in to help a man who broke his leg. Dave was

also out when four schoolboys drowned. He was also out when the

union stop capsized. It was horrendous that night. It was a

very sad night. I have worked with him for 25 years. He is a fantastic

guy. He is totally devoted to this cause. He hardly takes a holiday.

He is just a man. And it is for this dedication that Dave has been

selected to be a torch-bearer for the Olympic flame. Something that

came as a shock. I thought it was a wind-up. These things do not

happened to me. To be chosen out of all the people nominated is

fantastic. A well deserved honour. How about this for an Olympic dream

come true. Princetown Football Club is possibly one of few teams in the

country without a pitch, and how they have suffered. But that's all

about to change, thanks to an Olympic legacy windfall, courtesy

of Sport England. Jumpers for goalposts? Not quite,

but playing football he it isn't easy. What you think about playing

on a pitch like this? It is terrible. In fact, players et

Princetown Football Club have to travel seven miles to Tavistock

four matches, but that is about to change. An Olympic legacy win four

of �50,000 a means this field should soon be Princetown's very

own theatre of dreams. The parish council will use it, the Women's

Institute will use it. It is not just about football, it is about

sport and community. To celebrate, local children came for a kickabout.

It was great, but where it -- but we it. I don't like football.

has been a baptism of football fire fault Princetown. We were losing

badly when we started to, but it has got better. Hopefully next

season they will have a perfectly flat pitch. Back of the net, if

they had one! We are always happy to loan him out

for target practice!. -- target practice! And now for the weather.

It turned out to be a pleasant day after the club moved away. A fine

start tonight, but it will become cloudy. There is an area of low

pressure at developing in the Bay of Biscay. It will gradually move

towards us over the next 12 hours or show. -- or so. At the weekend

the high pressure will be back, so after a cloudy day tomorrow, things

will improve from Friday. We can show you some pictures filmed by

Our cameraman where there was a good deal of fine weather. When

Dartmoor is like this, doesn't it look fantastic? You can see for

miles. And in that sunshine across the north of the county we have

seen temperatures of 15 degrees. Tonight, we will have a drop in

this temperatures. It will be as low as three or four degrees. More

cloud coming up from the south and towards their end, some light

showers across the far south of Devon. Winds also pick up. It will

be a bit blustery along the south coast tomorrow morning. Tomorrow,

some bright dry weather at first, there will be cloud travelling in

during the afternoon. The Channel Islands will have some persistent

rain and there will be a keen breeze. Torquay and Torbay will not

get much above ten degrees. We may get 15 degrees in the north of

Devon. Here are the times of high water. The cleanest surf will be on

the north coast. Here are the coastal waters. From Friday onwards,

the high pressure comes back with a lot of settled weather over the

weekend. Perhaps a bit misty overnight, but daytimes -- but

daytime temperatures of 15 degrees. There will be more reaction to the

Budget on your BBC Radio local station tomorrow. BBC Radio Devon