Panorama

King's Cross, Zeebrugge, Piper Alpha - more than a thousand people died in the big disasters of the late 80s. Yet after most disasters and deaths at work, company managements escape unpunished.

The Prime Minister praised the NHS for the treatment his parents received when they were ill in their old age. But many health authorities are now cutting back or even abandoning long-stay beds, moving the elderly to private nursing homes.

The collapse of Soviet Union has left thousands of nuclear warheads, vast amounts of plutonium and entire cities full of scientists who know how to make nuclear weapons: what happens to them now?

As the General Election approaches, opinion polls suggest an increasing likelihood of the result being a hung Parliament. If so, the balance of power may be held by Paddy Ashdown , the leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Next week George Bush sets out on the long electoral road to a 2nd term in the White House. But America is ill disposed to reward the President for his foreign policy successes. The campaign spotlight has focused on the ailing US economy.

As the opinion polls indicate that-half the Scottish electorate now favours independence, David Dimbleby chairs a debate from Edinburgh on the future of Scotland's government.