File on 4 Investigates Folgen

The way in which oil is traded on commodities markets is coming under close scrutiny. Last month, officers of the European Commission raided the London offices of BP and Shell along with Norway's Statoil company and the leading price reporting agency Platts. They said they were investigating claims of collusion to manipulate the prices of oil and biofuels on the international markets.A leading city insider tells File On 4 that the price-reporting mechanism for oil is 'wide open to abuse'So are petrol prices being kept artificially high by hidden forces beyond the normal workings of supply and demand ? Gerry Northam investigates and asks whether British regulators are proving slow to recognise the potential problem.Producer: David Lewis.

Local authorities across the UK are facing tough decisions as they try to balance their books in the face of unprecedented funding cuts - with many opting to sell land and buildings to reduce spending and bring in much needed capital.But, one person's white elephant is another's much loved local facility, so the choice of what goes on the market often causes great public resentment.Jenny Chryss visits four local authorities where announcements about asset sales have caused serious questions to be asked. She finds allegations of decisions taken behind closed doors, sums that don't stack up and property that could end up being mothballed for years to come.So are councils getting value for money for their tax payers? Or are they out of their depth when they negotiate with the private sector, especially in one of the harshest property markets for years?And with a major shift in the way councils are audited, is there a danger that mistakes could go unnoticed and unchallenged?Producer: Rob Cave.

In the latest high profile grooming trial, 7 men from Oxford will be sentenced later this month for sexually exploiting and raping 6 schoolgirls. Police said the girls - some as young as 12 - were 'abused to the point of torture' for years. One girl was injected with heroin. Another was forced to have a backstreet abortion.The police praised the young women for finding the strength to give evidence against the gang and protect other girls.But, after the legal process ends, what support is there for victims?After a string of such abuse cases around the country, Jane Deith finds there are many young women who say they've been let down by the authorities and are struggling, alone, with mental health problems and difficulties with education and housing.More victims of grooming are being rescued. But does being sexually exploited as a child mean a life sentence?Reporter: Jane Deith Producer: Sally Chesworth.