大象传媒

Bitcoin or Britcoin? The Bank of England has published the results of its consultation on creating a new central bank digital currency 鈥� and also the prospect of regulating other commercial digital currencies 鈥� so-called 鈥渟afecoin鈥�. We hear from the Bank鈥檚 deputy governor, Sir Jon Cunliffe and from cryptocurrency expert Kate Baucherel.

Four years after the Grenfell Tower fire in which 72 people died, leaseholders living in tower blocks affected by the cladding crisis have started receiving and paying bills, sometimes for tens of thousands of pounds. The money is to pay for work to make the buildings safe. For homes in buildings under 18 metres high, which don鈥檛 qualify for a share of a 拢5 billion government fund, the bills can be huge. In February, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said there would be a loan scheme to help those people pay, and that it would be capped at 拢50 a month. But so far there鈥檚 no sign of the loans, nor much indication of when they might appear. We hear from a leaseholder facing payment demands now. And solicitor Liam Spender, of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership, tells us what the options are for those affected.

It鈥檚 about to get easier for people with problem debt to freeze their repayments and even write off what they owe. The rules on Debt Relief Orders are changing in England and Wales at the end of this month, and will increase the number of people eligible to apply. Sam Nurse, director of the Money Advice Hub, explains the details.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah
Producer: Paul Waters
Reporter: Dan Whitworth
Researcher: Stefania Okereke