11/06/2013 Newsnight

Can it really be true? Are we beginning to see what were once

famously or infamously called the green shoots coming up in the

British economy? So how is the market doing beyond the ages of the

south-east bubble? 5 miles from London, is there any

sign of a real recovery. We have gathered among others the

author of the phrase "green shoots" to lend us some fresh horticultural

insights. In Istanbul the riot police attempt to clear Taksim

Square. Why do the Turkish authorities finally lose patients.

Also tonight, on the streets of Moscow, the punch-ups are about

parliament's overwhelming decision to pass anti-gay legislation. What

is it with the Russians and homosexuality. This man lost his

job as a television presenter after coming out as gay there.

Scientists can now make a cat invisible, sort of. We will ask one

scientist how long before we can use it on something bigger, like a

television producer? How do you feel? Not physically but

how do you feel about the state of the country? More figures appeared

today including an estimate that the economy grew at 0.6% in the

last three months. It is not what you would call spectacular, it is

of a piece with other assessments that say after a couple of years of

stagnation that the economy is perhaps finely moving. Does it mean

George Osborne's therapy is working, or is what growth there despite his

ministrations. There is life outside statistics, we send Paul

Mason to see how it looks in Rugby. For economyists the truth lies in

the detail. You can scan the graphs and charts and watch the markets

but the only true way to spot a recovery is to go to the kind of

place it would be unmissable. Which for me means a side street in

Rugby, Warwickshire. If we ever do get a sustained economic recovery

then this street is probably one of the first places we might see it.

Because Rugby, the town, is just outside the south-east property

market. So house prices here have been stagnant for five years. What

we are looking for is an up tick. For all the arguments about double-

dips, what the GDP data shows is a recovery faltering after 2010. The

latest sign of an upturn is what purchasing managers are reporting

across the whole economy. This line shows the balance between those

reporting an increase in sales and those a downturn. It is now been

positive since the start of the year. Le

Of course it has been positive before, so why should we trust it

now? I think the recovery we are seeing is barely broad-based. It

looks like maybe consumers are spending a bit more. But it looks

like some improvement in the industrial sector in manufacturing.

Even possibly an improvement in construction. So it seems to be

fairly across the board that we are seeing a bit of a pick up now.

But to the Government is pouring tax-payers' money and banks'

support into a recovery of a different kind. That is in the

housing market. Funding For Lending, help to buy. There is billions

earmarked to get house prices on the move. So what's happening.

These were built prior to the recession in 2007 and they were

purchased for �80,000 roughly. We saw in 2009 they went down to

�65,000. We have seen recently they have recovered to almost full value

for what they were originally purchased for. Definitely the

market is improving. What do you think is driving that? Definitely

the first time buyers, the mortgages are being freed up. Rates

are getting much better and also the Government's help to buy scheme

is definitely having a beneficial effect on the market.

Rugby also happens to be one of those places where a bit of civil

engineering might boost things. This is the place where the M6 runs

out and the east-west route becomes, well, a bottleneck. There is an

extra �3 billion nationally earmarked for infrastructure

spending, and because of that work could start to expand this junction

next year. Until then construction industries

are having to make do with smaller stuff. Here an office block is

under way. If I asked you the straight question are we in a

sustained recovery in your sector? No. Really?No. We are, there is

work around, it is generally of a much smaller nature. It is highly

competitive. There are sub- contractors, main contractors who

are going into receivership as a result of the pressures upon them.

We are not out of this yet, we are a long way from it. In general we

are seeing very tight times. We are seeing it right the way through the

supply chain. We are seeing the supply chain not being paid. We are

seeing main contractors not being paid. What would a sustained

recovery in your sector look like? Increasing workload, I guess. Very

simple, more work. This is how the recovery was

supposed to happen. At a manufacturing company in Rugby,

they have just built this giant box and it will be used to transport

rotors across. Talk to manufacturers and it is the same

story as construction, small bits of work here and there but a

problem getting paid. What would a real recovery look like and this

workshop? There would be two or three more people in it. In a real

recovery? Yeah, and hopefully more investment in the machines.

would be able to tell if there was a real sustained recovery? We would

see that. At the moment we should be selling a lot more RSJs to

builders, it is flat at the moment. Where do you go for finance, with

builders before finance was the problem. How does it feel to you?

With finance we have been very lucky, we just work on the

overdraft. We work on that. But I must admit we have done some very

big jobs just at the moment and customers are taking longer to pay.

Which has hit us and we have had to, for the first time in my highsry,

we have had to borrow money -- history, we have had to borrow

money just to keep going. Even now manufacturing is nowhere near

recovered to what it was before the crisis. The whole project of

rebalancing by exports and private investment is just hard to find.

The hopes all along have been with businesses and, porters driving the

recovery. That really still doesn't seem to be happening. It seems to

be consumers that are coming to the economy's rescue, perhaps by

borrowing a bit more. That is really what we wanted to avoid. We

are at the point now where any growth is better than no growth. So

if consumers are going to lead the recovery from now, then that is for

the best. For many people here any kind of

recovery will be welcome. They are using up their reserves of ready

cash. You can see how it might pan out,

house prices rise, some people get more money in their pockets and the

whole consumer scene becomes a little less reliant on pawnbrokers.

The problem is the recovery we were supposed to be having was led by

investment, manufacturing and exports and this is not it.

In fact it is a recovery with low wages, high borrowing and a one-way

bet on house prices. Sound familiar? With us now are the

journalists and economists, Nando De Colo, former Chancellor of the -

- Chancellor of the Exchequer, Norman Lamont, and Gillian Tett.

Each of them has selected their recent favourite graph. You are

going first Gillian. This is your graph. This chart is very important

for how we feel and in terms of what happens next in the economy.

It is the source of some dispute between the IMF and the Treasury.

If you are feeling optimistic you can say look the level of debt

relative to income has fallen sharply since the peak during the

credit bubble. Just to explain for the idiots, myself among us. That

shows the amount of debt that the average household has acquired, or

is carrying? Relative to how much money they are earning each month.

If you sat down and totted up all your credit cards, your car loans,

your mortgage, that would be the total debt. During the credit

bubble it got very high, now it has come down a bit. That should mean

that people start to feel less under pressure financially and more

willing to actually go out and spend. That is what the British

Treasury hopes. This is a good graph? Except, but, there is a big

sting in the tail. If you look at the chart it hasn't come down very

far. It has come down a lot less distance than in a country like

America where it has dropped quite sharply the problem, as people like

the IMF say, is unfortunately there is still an awful lot of

rebalancing that needs to go on. Not just inside people's household

finances but across the economy as a whole. What do you make of this

graph? I think what Gillian says is right, a reduction in indebtedness

is part of the adjustment that has to be made. We have had problems

with Government indebtedness, but we also have a problem of personal

indebtedness. Until that happens I don't think consumers will feel

confident. So everyone is still borrowing too much? I think people

are still, by historic standards, quite heavily indebted, yes.

think it is the other way around. I think the Government's policy is

actually to make that graph move up again. That's what help to buy is

about. That is really what George Osborne did in the budget. He said

you can't cure debt with debt, but then the main thing he announced

was an eanother mus Government programme to guarantee and

subsidise -- another enormous Government programme to guarantee

and subsidise more debt. I believe we are beginning to see a recovery,

but it is of exactly the opposite kind to what has been described.

The very interesting thing is everyone watching this programme

tonight should ask themselves how do I feel about the future and

about my own finances? Does the idea of taking on more debt make me

feel terrified? Is it something I'm dipping my toe into the water, or

do I feel confident. That is really at the heart of whether we will

have a sustained recovery or not. So if they feel confident that's

good? And they take on the debt and then we are back? Back to where we

were before. Exactly. That's not very encouraging. Interestingly

enough, the reason the line has come down is it is primarily due to

increased income rather than households actually reducing their

net levels of debt. In America, by contrast, there has been a real

reduction in the actual level of debt held by households, that

hasn't happened yet in the UK. lot of that has been through

bankruptcy and foreclosures and things like that. There is an

election coming up. They have only got 18 months to generate a boom of

some kind in the economy. If it can't be an expert boom, it will be

a consumer and mortgage boom, that is where we are moving. Norman

Lamont, takes through your favourite recent graph. That hasn't

come up yet. It will come up I hope very shortly? My graph is of the

purchasing managers' index. This is of the whole economy, including

services and manufacturing. When it is above 50% that indicates that

people are expecting their order books, their business to increase

to do well. So in the past it has been a very good guide to the trend

of GDP. And here if you look at it, this is for the services sector,

which is the largest part of the economy, it would be even more

marked and show a big increase in optimisim. As I say that in the

past, historically has been closely co-related with the trend of the

economy. The amount of upbeatness you can see among people making

purchasing decisions, is that it? That's right. That indicates how

they feel the economy is going, is that the idea? It is an ago gaigs

of all the businesses in -- ago gregaigs of all the businesses in

the country, done by survey of what they expect to happen in their

businesses. Doesn't that confirm what Gillian was saying that there

is more confidence about? Yes, I do believe there is a basis for

thinking that we are about to see a bit of an upturn. I don't think it

will be very spectacular. I don't think it should be spectacular, a

gradual recovery is what we want rather than a fast recovery. There

are a lot of adjustments, the rebalancing Gillian referred to,

that need to be made in the economy. I think this ought to take time.

Could we call it green shoots do you think? We shouldn't confuse

green shoots with trees or buds or flowers like those behind you!

Green shoots are merely green shoots, the beginning of something.

We may be seeing some green shoots about now? It is possible, but I

think what history, can I just say this, I think what history

demonstrates is when you have had a big banking failure that sort of

recovery is much more prolonged and much more gradual and we should

expect it to be a little bit bumpy. Many years ago when I was a

journalist I learned to write the word "bank" in short hand, you go

down very sharply for a "b" and then a "n" and then a "k", we down

sharply and we bounced up a bit and then bounced on the bottom. That is

also presumably how you spell "bonk"? Or pink. The first thing

that happens is you start falling. You can see that from the chart.

What do you make of the graph? agree broadly with what people are

saying. We are starting to see the first green shoots. When I came to

see the pictures in the studio that is pushing up the daisies as well!

Are we pushing up the daisies. was my joke! I think you better

show us yours and then we can talk more generally. There it is.

spent spend my time travelling around the world now. I write for

an international audience for Reuters and the New York Times, I'm

also making comparisons between what is going on around the world.

The issue posed right at the beginning of the broadcast is if

the recovery is happening is it because of George Osborne's

ministrations or despite it. I think this chart, believe it or not,

demonstrates quite clearly the answer to that question and that is

that the recovery so far is very much despite George Osborne's

ministrations. Now it may be that the policies is about to change

drammatically, but what this chart shows is growth in the UK, the blue

line, and growth in the US, the Green Line. So the British economy

was stronger than the US economy going into the recession. They fell

almost exactly the same amount. They both had the same problems,

large financial sector, falling housing market, large levels of

Government debt. They both bounced back at the same time, through 2010

there is a marked divergence. The US economy continues to grow

between 2.5%, the UK falls back. That is because of the fiscal

tightening, the austerity policy, the higher taxes, the big cuts in

public pend spending which really began in my view and the IMF

confirms this from 2010 on wards. The gap between those lines is

about 2% of GDP. And just to give you an idea of what that

meaningless sort of statistic actually signifies, that's

equivalent to about half a million jobs. So the difference between the

performance of the two economies is roughly equivalent to half a

million jobs, I would say. I would broadly agree, I make two points,

America is now tightening fiscal policy, partly as a result of this

gridlock in Washington right now. At the right time. We did it too

early. Secondly, one reason why there is a difference in sentiment

between the US and the UK is America has had this cleansing

process of seeing a lot of defaults on the mortgages, a lot of the debt

repaid in the household sector, going back to the chart I started

with, which hasn't happened yet in the UK. This is he very interesting

it suggests some sort of recovery might have happened any way despite

George Osborne? I would make a couple of repoints in regards to

the graph. Firstly the financial sector, though large in both

economies, is much larger in relation to the total economy in

the UK than in the US. We have a bigger crater caused by the

collapse of the banks. Secondly, when you are comparing where we

were at the beginning of the crisis, with where we are now, I think in

one sense that is irrelevant. Because it all depends was the

growth that we had before the crisis real or was it in losery? In

my opinion a lot of the growth we had in 20067/07 was debt filled.

The fact that we are not back up where we were in 207 and America is

-- 2007, and America is back up, is just a reflection of how eluisery

it was before the crash. What sort of level will we be back to the

sort of period Norman Lamont is talking about in 2007? If the help

to buy George Osborne boom turns out to be real, then I would say

2015/16. I would roughly the same thing. I think about the same, but

compare it with Italy or Spain. Even if they grew at 1.5% peran

number, it wouldn't be before 2018/19 they were back to the level

they were. We are doing a lot better than some other people.

Great charts. It was basey old day for the riot

police in Istanbul, teargas, water canon and endless pushing and

shoving as they tried to clear Taksim Square. The scene of days of

protest against the Government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Were we going

to kneel down in front of these people, he asked a meeting of MPs

today, he wasn't expecting the answer "yes". Nor were the

campaigners he calls "riffraff". He spoke to Jeremy Bowen earlier who

had just been hit by teargas. Can you talk us through what

happened today Jeremy? Well it has been a long day of clashes here,

they are going on as I speak. There is a lot of teargas in the air,

that is why I have got this. Just in the last few minutes I have seen

a water canon down there. More riot squads firing volleys of teargas

grenades, those are the bangs you can hear, towards the demonstrators

below there. There are still thousands of demonstrators in Gezi

Park, over my right shoulder. And here in Taksim Square there are

police, riot squads, water canon and all the paraphernalia of the

Turkish state. There will be a lot of Turk watching it on TV,

supporters of the Prime Minister saying good, these people are

getting what's coming to them. There is the other half of the

country with the protesters, this country is split. Wasn't he saying

until very, very recently that he would open talks with them? Yeah

there have been complaints about the people they were talking to

tomorrow are people hand picked by the AK Party. By the Prime

Minister's party as suitable people to negotiate with. A lot of people

here in Gezi Park have repudiated them as being not representative

and saying they are not going to be affected by anything that they do.

The thing is that ever since he returned from his North Africa tour

at the end of last week Mr Erdogan has been pretty much unremittingly

hostile in his rhetoric towards the protestors. Some people, some long

time observers of Turkish politics were hoping he might produce a U-

turn when he got back and reach out to elements of them and got a deal.

He wouldn't have won three elections here without being a

canny politician. He has taken a very hardline, used very tough

language, and of course in the last 12 hours or so he has sent in the

riot squads here. Right in the centre of Istanbul in this city's

equivalent of Travers square or Leicester Square. We are talking

about something localised with profound implication, how untable

is the situation? There is a risk if they don't find way out of this

that is in some sense consensual, there is a risk that parts of this

country might become, for a while, ungovernable. I think it is that

serious. There is a groundswell among half the population. Half the

population voted for the Prime Minister in the last elections,

there is a glound swell of people who are -- groundswell of people

who are fed up with his autocratic style. His supporters has said he

has presided over unprecedented growth in the Turkish economy. The

muscling up of their diplomatic clout across the Middle East. He is

turning Turkey back into a great power. Why are these people getting

in the way. These people would argue, and they are chanting again,

that they are shoulder-to-shoulder against fascism. That is one of the

great slogans they use they are, that is what they believe they are

fighting. Any word of what the army thinks? The army has been very

quiet. Don't forget Mr Erdogan has put large numbers of generals in

prison, because the army of course, which held political power in this

country for a long time and felt they were the guardians of the

secular state. The people who would move in if there was trouble going

on and who took part in a number of bloody military coups and military

Governments, they have been very much sent back to their barracks

under Mr Erdogan. He has used quite strong language. He has said that

the atmosphere reminds him of the period leading up to past military

coups. So he is in a sense raising that specter as if to say "don't

you dare"! Thank you very much, look after yourself.

Now by a margin of 36 -0, the Russian parliament voted this

afternoon to ban distribution of information about homosexuality to

children. The rules of the Douma are obviously a bit like those of

the philosophy department at Monty Python's Outback University where

everyone is called Bruce. The idea of banning what was coyly called of

the non-traditional sexual relations, is part of an attempt to

inoculate the country against the western liberals.

This is the lower house of the ru. Parliament the Douma. It isn't one

the Russian parliament, the Douma, it isn't one of the greatest

landmarks, yet it says so much about what is happening in Russia

today. It was a dramatic day in the Douma, much of it unfolded outside

the building. When I came down here earlier I witnessed clashes between

gay rights activists and anti-gay campaigners. The gay rights groups

were shouting things like "we should have the same right as

everyone else", their opponents responded with "Moscow is not

sodom" and calls on the police to beat up homosexuals. At one point

the violence spilled on to the main shopping street, with the gay

rights activists literally being hunted down and attacked. A few

hours later Russian parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of a

controversial piece of legislation. It imposes heavy fines on anyone

who provides information to under- 18s about what is described as

"untraditional sexual relations". So what does all this tell us about

the direction in which Russia is moving? First of all it shows that

the Kremlin, which continues to dictate all policy here is growing

more conservative. Vladimir Putin may be the first

Russian lead in 300 years to announce he's getting a divorce. He

has made traditional family values, marriage, children and the church a

cornerstone of his third term in office. It is almost becoming the

state ideology in place of communism. And liberal values,

whether political, social or sexual have no room in this very

conservative outlook. This world view goes down very well with many

ordinary Russians. I witnessed an interesting conversation today

outside the parliament, an anti-gay activist was telling two gay rights

campaigners that people in Russia should never behave the way they do.

And if they wanted to be homosexuals they should clear off

and go and live in Europe. In fact, one opinion poll out today showed

that 88% of Russians supports the law on homosexuality, passed by the

parliament. And another recent survey showed that nearly half the

population believes that Russia's gay and lesbian community should

not enjoy the same rights as other citizens. Now these figures reflect

another key change in Russia. Russian society is growing more

intolerant of anyone who looks different, who thinks different,

who behaves different. That includes sexual minorities, ethnic

minorities and political minorities. While that trend continues Russia

will remain on a very different path from the west.

I'm joined by two guests in Moscow. A singer who was awarded the title

of Honoured Artist to Russia by President Putin, and her former

television presenter who outed himself on television. He was

subsequently sacked for doing so. This astonishing vote in the Douma,

463-0. Do you think that really reflects Russian opinion? I was

listening to the coverage of the issue, it was funny. It was funny

to me because it is nothing to do with politics. Being the mother of

three children I approve this bill because I want to defend my

children, first of all. Then I don't care, I don't want to meddle

with other people's lives. I don't care what they do behind their

doors. But they do care -- but I do care about my children's bringing

up. You know it is the situation not only me thinks like that. The

vast majority of people in Russia 88% of people support the ban of

homosexuality propaganda. That's a fact. And this bill

responds to people's demands. hear what you say.

Anton, tell us as a gay man, you came out on television. You lost

your job, you believe as a consequence. What else happened.

What is the feeling in your country? I'm glad that Valariea,

that situation is very funny for her, but it is not fun for me. I

think it is against me, against my family, against all gay people in

Russia. From today. No, no.Yes, yes. Hi. Good night. I have a lot

of fans who belong to the gay society it is not true. Can I.

Excuse me. From today I cannot say that I'm gay and I'm the same human

being like you, like President Putin, like all of you. Because

from today I will have to pay for this from �100-�2,000 because these

words could be taken as propaganda and she knows it, right? Just a

second, I don't understand your argument, you are saying just

because you are gay you are making propaganda for...Exactly. So you

are illegal, you feel? If I said that I am gay and I'm the same

human being, like you, for example, injure me, and it could be taken

like propaganda. That's outrageous? I foal the minority in my country,

believe me. I have a lot of friends who belong to the gay society, and

they do not support their uni sexual matters or would take part

in a gay parade, they are normal people. There is a lot of people

who belong to gay society still, they are still working on TV, in

the media and all over. I don't know why it happened to you? Anton,

come on? Are they open gays? Yeah, a lot of artists are openly gay.

please, tell me, who exactly is openly gay in the Russian media, in

the Russian pop business, in Russian showbiz, who is it? Sergie

Pankin. He's an open gay? Really? tell you what, we have world

renowned libel courts we will leave the naming of names. Nobody knows

who that is. Can you help us with this question Anton, first off,

what is it about your society and homosexuality? What do you mean

exactly. Why is it such an issue, this would not be an issue in

western Europe, for example, or the United States. What is it

particular to Russian society that makes it such a sensitive matter?

I'm not sure if it is a sensitive matter in Russia. I think it is a

sensitive matter for the Russian state. It is a big question, why? I

have no answer. Maybe Valeria knows. What I know is our society is based

on Christian morality, still. In spite of the "enlightened European

tendencies", a lot of people try to think the same way. We are

different the vast majority of people. It is interesting to hear

about Christians. Pardon me. Do you think it has much to do with the

communist history in your country Not at all. Let's put it like that,

the more aggressive propaganda of homosexuality, the less people feel

loyalty towards them. Towards the gay society. That's it. That's it.

It is very fun to hear about orthodox values from pop singer. It

is really fun. I just want to say one point. You talk about the

majority, about the majority wants it. I just want to remind you that

95% in Nazi Germany supported laws against Jews, homosexuals, and

gypsies, 95% of German people in 1935. Do remember what was in 1945,

right. Are you saying that you feel personally in danger as a

consequence of this legislation? Sure. I have three children, I have

the youngest son is 14 years old, I don't want him to be influenced by

anybody through the Internet mostly. Wow. You understand me.You are a

pop singer right? You have gay friends. Yes I am. They are normal

people. Uuraguay friends do you feel they make something like

propaganda to your 14-year-old son. Of course not. Yesterday I saw in

the news that one man was arrested for attempted sexual relations with

a 14-year-old boy, that should be punished. This case is criminal.

Presumably it is already punishable in your country isn't it? Child

abuse is not a crime in Russia? sure. Yes, of course it is.

OK all right. But it is nothing had had happened it was just an attempt.

It was a homosexual attempt it could influence... Thank you, thank

you. Good thank you very much indeed, thank you.

How odd were you? How old, sorry, how old were your children when

they left home? The average age is 24, unless you are in the care of

the state, which decrease it is entitled to end its commitment when

a young person reaches 16. Sometimes you might be able to

prolong your foster care until you are 18 and so avoid having to sit

your A-levels from some hostel. But a group of MPs were hoping today to

get parliament to agree that young people in foster care might be

supported until the age of 2. But the House of Commons speaker didn't

give them a chance -- 21. How the House of Commons speaker didn't

give them the chance. We filmed children in care a few years ago

and followed them now until they are 21 and asked if the raised age

would have made a difference to them. Four years ago Newsnight met

Phil Fuller, he had just turned 18. He was loving his new job as a

steward for the Leicester Tigers Rugby club. After seven years in

foster care he told our reporter that he felt ready to face the

world. My care experience has been all right. It's been good. Got the

best out of it. When you say you have the best out of it, what do

you mean? Everything I really wanted to. Get my confidence up and

self-esteem, go to groups and stuff. Keep myself busy and stuff. And now

you have your own flat? Yes.Now 21 Phil says that looking back he

wasn't ready to live alone and moving out of care was much harder

than he thought it would be. probably thought I was ready then

because I was immature and thought I can do it. My own property,

parties, you know, friends round whenever you want and stuff. But

now I just weren't ready, I didn't have some of the skills that I

needed to go into having my own place and stuff. I had to like ask

people to lend me a tenner here or a fiver here for paying the gas or

the electric or get some extra food stuffs in. You got into debt?Yeah,

I got into a bit of debt. average young people don't leave

home until they are 24. Yet children in care are expecting to

be ready to go out into the world at the age of 18. Campaigners say

that if they were supported for just a few more years fewer of them

would end up in trouble and more of them might well end up in higher

education. Last year 6,600 19-year-olds left

care. Of those just 5% are living with former foster families. But

under a 2008 pilot scheme, which funded foster care until aged 21,

23% chose to stay in their foster homes, a significant increase. The

cost of rolling this scheme out nationally would be around �2.6

million. Today several MPs called on the Government to raise the age

children leave foster care to 21. What difference have we made as

parents if children in our care end up on the streets or in jail or

with disabling mental health problems. Another generation doomed

to mirror the lives of their own parents. Why would we not let them

stay with their foster carers for those important extra three years.

The minister said he wants local authorities to prioritise helping

children to stay on in care. Or what's called "staying put". I have

written to all directors of childrens' services for staying put

arrangements and tax and benefit issues. But he didn't promise any

legislation or any more money. Without more cash it is hard to see

local Government prioritising it. The LGA has said that the

Government cannot place new financial expectations on councils

at a time when they are imposing drastic cuts.

In 2009 Caroline was a college student, studying performing arts.

She hoped to go on to university and to be a social worker.

Hopefully with my experience and then what I learn as well I can

make childrens' lives better. she has her hands full with three-

month-old Archie. After leaving foster care she moved in with hered

dad. She dreads to think what would have happened if he hadn't been

there. I was really immature, I would have gone down the route of

drinking, probably drugs. If you hadn't lived with your dad? If I

was out on the streets on my own or living in my own property, probably

would have gone down that route. you think that's, is that your

worry, do you think that is what is happening in a lot of places for a

lot of people do you think? Yeah. I think they have not got the family

support, the right friendship groups, they do go down the wrong

route. So I think up until they are 21 or, like I say, even later in

life. I think that the local authority should be there to

support them and give them that family background, that family

support that they do need. Phil is now working for an education

charity and he's mentoring children. He thinks young people would get on

better in life if they were cared for well into their 20s.

I think they should extend the period so young people are in care

to stay with their foster parents or gain extra skills. I wouldn't

say 21 I would say 24, 25, like a normal young person with their

biological parents. Normally they do stay up to 25, 28. So it just

keeps us all on a level playing field. The campaign to raise the

age for leaving foster care to 21 has stalled, because for now it is

hard to see where the money will come from.

Scientists in Singapore are said to have discovered the thing that

every child desires, as HG Wells heros discovered, invisibility

makes it possible to achieve all things people desire. Even if it

makes impossible to enjoy them. It doesn't stop it being a dream.

Indeed if these scientists are to be believed, it may not remain a

dream indefinitely. Is it possible invisibility might really be

achievable? Professor Chris Philips from Imperial College believes so,

and he can explain why. Do you think it is impossible? No it is

happening already. Let as look at these photographs we have got. I

don't know if it is a cat or cold fish, both have been made to be

invisible and not before time. Many would feel. Let's see if we can

look at the pictures. No we can't. Yes we can. That is the goldfish.

There it is. There is the cat. It does disappear, how is it happening

there? If you are a cat and you want to disappear. You go under the

bed?. That is hiding, if you put a bag over your head people know you

are there. If you want to be ins haveable you have to arrange for

the light behind you, hide yourself and arrange for the image behind

you to come around you and to be brought back together just as if

you weren't there. That is what that device does. It is a kind of.

You could see it was a plate or something inside the goldfish tank?

I think it is a set of crystals. What is actually happening?

means the background image is being guided around the cat and brought

back together. If the cat sits in the middle of the device it

disappears and vanishs. Why is that useful or worth scientific

research? It is an example, you notes these stories are come --

knows these stories crumbing through more and more, of people's

quest to control light, the bending of light. Why is that useful?We

had an example early on when Jeremy was there with his live pictures

from Turkey. Those pictures were actually being turned into tiny

little flashes of light and sent to us down a cable of optic fibre. At

every point in those optic fibres and the Internet you want it make

circuits out of light. You know instead of making circuits out of

electronics, you would like to send thes of light around, this research

that yields the cloaks is driven by the quest to control light inside

the optic circuits. You used the word "cloak", talking the language

of Harry Potter. It didn't look like a cloak, it looked like a

plate of some kind. Are we talking about something feesably as

effective as a piece of clothing? That thing doesn't have to be

flexible, if you can't be seen that is the idea of the cloak. There are

other ways of vanishing, you can do something called adaptive

camouflage, where you have cameras that are connected to electronics

in your coach, and you have a coat that is a flexible TV screen. That

would show the picture behind you, if you get it all right it would

look like you have vanished. As far as the invisibility cloak of the

other kind, the light-bending cloak? We call that a cloak, yes.

How far off are scientists from App Developersing or discovering such a

thing and other people developing it? It has been demonstrated in

radio waves, it is easier to make the wavelengths that we can't see.

There is a man called John Pendry at Imperial College, he was the

first to develop the idea. The first demonstration was with radio

wave, it would hide something from ray door. To make one that hides

things at light frequencies is harder but an engineering problem

and it will get there in the next 20 years or so. Thank you very much.

There you are, hoisted with your on It is the moment for us all to be

invisible, not before time you may agree. We will materialise again

tomorrow. Good night. Much warmer night

tonight compared to last night. A humid feel on Wednesday. But quite

a lot of cloud again. We will see sunshine developing, sunny spells

through central and eastern Scotland, eastern England also

brightening up. Further south a lot of cloud and outbreaks of rain.

Sunny spells across Northern Ireland. Clouding over here once

more. Probably a wet start for northern Scotland. It looks dryer

by the afternoon. Sunny spells for most of the day through the central

belt. Cloud returning bringing rain here during the evening. Mostly

grey across North West of England. We could hit 20 with a little

sunshine. For the bulk of England and Wales, temperatures will be in

the mid-teens, and rain will return to many southern areas, it looks

like during the day. Turning increasingly windy, the wind

picking up across South Wales and south-west England. Especially

during Wednesday night into Thursday. Thursday looks like being

a fairly blustery day. There will be some sunny spells. Interest will

be bands of showery rain, particularly across the northern

half of the UK. Further south there will be a few showers around, we

should see a little more in the way of sunshine here on Thursday.

Slightly fresher feel however, temperatures being down, it won't