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A senior Cabinet minister, the Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, has suggested that the Government may need to be flexible in how it cuts public spending if economic circumstances change. Rescuer workers in Chile say they expect to finish drilling a shaft down to the trapped miners later today. But it will still be several days before the first of the 33 men is brought to the surface.

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0709
Rescuers in Chile are very close to completing an escape tunnel for 33 miners trapped 700 metres underground for the past two months. Andrew Harding reports from the scene of the delicate operation.

0711
Paper review.

0714
South African writer Damon Galgut, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction, talks to the programme about his latest novel In A Strange Room, in which he draws on his own travel experiences. Rebecca Jones reports on the author's book which has come under scrutiny about its eligibility for a fiction prize.

0719
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has suggested that public sector cuts could be scaled back if the economy goes into recession. Political correspondent Colette McBeth analyses Mr Huhne's comments.

0721
Thousands of scientists and their supporters are expected at a rally in London's streets to protest against expected cuts in science funding. Prof Colin Blakemore, former head of the Medical Research Council, examines how cuts to science research would affect the economy in the long run.

0732
China has responded strongly to the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to a jailed Chinese human rights campaigner. Liu Xiaobo was jailed for 11 years last December for writing a manifesto in 2008 calling for free speech and multi-party elections. Beijing correspondent Martin Patience reports on reaction to the award and Liu Xiabo's friend Wen Kejian discusses its importance with Chatham House's Yiyi Lu.

0740
Paper review.

0745
Whose side was Britain on during the American Civil War? An American historian is trying to bring that question to life by taking tourists for a walk across London. Tom Bateman talked to Dr Tom Sebrell, who leads the American Civil War tour of the capital.

0747
Thought for the Day with Brian Draper, Associate lecturer at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity.

0751
The coroner who presided at the inquest into the death of Mark Saunders has written to the Home Secretary warning that armed police need to use their "common sense" more than what he calls "slavish adherence" to written documents and protocols. Andy Hayman, former Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and Jenny Jones of the Met Police Authority debate if this advice is correct.

0810
The world economy has been suffering a major imbalance in recent years: China exports far more than it imports, and the US (not to mention the UK) imports far more than it exports. Evan Davis spoke to George Soros, the billionaire investor, commentator and speculator, about a dispute that could turn quite nasty.

0816
The rock and roll guitarist Duane Eddy, who influenced rock and roll from the very start inspiring the likes of the Beach Boys and George Harrison is currently touring the UK. Reporter Nicola Stanbridge caught up with him during rehearsals.

0820
The debate continues about whether benefits should be capped as the coalition proposes in a move that might very large families. Isabel Parr, who works in her own small company and gets working tax credit, gives her thoughts on benefits reform.

0826
The sports news with Chris Dennis.

0831
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley will try to convince doctors at the Royal College of GPs conference today that his plans for radical change to the NHS will aim to give GPs control of £80 billion of the NHS's £100 billion budget. This would mean dramatic changes over the next couple of years. Mr Lansley outlines his ideas.

0839
With 11 days to go to the spending review, the Conservatives have used their conference to assure us the pain of economic belt-tightening will be spread across society. Historian Dominic Sandbrook, author of the new book State of Emergency: The Way We Were: Britain 1970-1974, offers a historical perspective on the recent rhetoric.

0842
Paper review.

0845
We learnt yesterday that the new shadow chancellor will be Alan Johnson - a surprising choice by Ed Miliband. Not only because all the talk was that either Ed Balls or Yvette Cooper would get the job but also because Alan Johnson has very little, if any, economic experience. The Daily Mail's political commentator & sketch writer Quentin Letts gives his thoughts on the move.

0848
Following the Hutton report on public sector pensions this week, do proposals like making people work longer and reconfiguring their pensions really address the future problems of an older less prosperous population? Two authors and economists, George Magnus and Harry Shutt, explore the "pensions riddle".

0854
This week a devastating fire largely destroyed Hastings Pier. Built in 1869 and designed by Eugenius Birch, it's regarded as one of the finest examples of a Victorian seaside architecture. Gyles Brandreth of the National Piers Society, reflects on the history and cultural significance of Britain's once treasured piers.

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