The Briefing Room

Prescriptions for opioid painkillers have increased by 60 per cent in the UK during the last decade, and the number of codeine-related deaths in England and Wales has more than doubled. The government is now planning to put prominent warnings about the dangers of addiction on the packaging of opioid medicines, to protect people from 'the darker side of painkillers' - as Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock put it. This is an effort to avoid the situation in the United States where 130 people die every day from opioid-related drug overdoses, which has prompted President Donald Trump to declare a national health emergency.But are we really on the precipice of our own epidemic? David Aaronovitch asks how the situation got so out of control in the USA and whether the UK should do more to regulate painkillers containing opioids. CONTRIBUTORS Sam Quinones, journalist and author of 'Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic'. Dr Raeford Brown, former chair of the FDA's Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee Dr Luke Mordecai, consultant anaesthetist at University College Hospital, with research focus on opiate use and complex pain Professor Leslie Colvin, chair of pain medicine, University of DundeeDr Emily Finch, consultant addiction psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley NHS TrustProducers: Serena Tarling & Richard Fenton-Smith Researcher: Kirsteen KnightDetails of organisations offering information and support with addiction are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline, or you can call for free at any time to hear recorded information on 08000 155 947.

Is religious intolerance on the rise, and if so, what is behind it?In Sri Lanka this week, people claiming to be acting out of religious belief killed more than 350 people, mostly of a different faith – in this case Christians. Religious intolerance is a theme which has surfaced in the news with some frequency in recent years – be it the persecution of the Rohingya in Myanmar, the Yazidis in Iraq, the Uighurs in China or numerous blasphemy trials in Pakistan. On this week's programme, David Aaronovitch asks whether religious intolerance – be it intolerance of religions, or by religions - is actually on the rise.If so, who is leading this – governments? Nationalist political movements? Or the faithful themselves? CONTRIBUTORS:Alan Keenan, senior analyst at the International Crisis GroupAlan Cooperman, Director of Religion research, Pew Research CentreKaren Armstrong, author of The Lost Art of Scripture: Rescuing the Sacred TextsOliver McTernan, founder of the conflict resolution organisation, Forward ThinkingRobin Gill, Emeritus Professor of Applied Theology at the University of Kent

The investigation has taken nearly two years, cost tens of millions of dollars, and led to dozens of criminal charges. Now, a redacted version of Robert Mueller’s report into whether Russia interfered in the 2016 US Presidential election is going to be delivered to Congress. This week David Aaronovitch and his guests in the Briefing Room examine what’s in the report, and what does it all mean - especially for Donald Trump and his prospects for winning a second presidential term next year.Contributors: Katie Benner, Justice Department reporter, New York Times Dr Leslie Vinjamuri, Head of the US and the Americas Programme, Chatham House Shira Scheindlin, former United States District Judge Larry Sabato, Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia

David Aaronovich examines the likely lasting impact of the UK's decision to quit the European Union - not on Britain but on mainland Europe. The European Union is struggling to reconcile competing views of the economy, of national identity and of ideology. As populist political parties play an increasing role in the governance of member states, some expert Euro-watchers give their views of the divisions and the chances of them being reconciled. Might the EU "widen" its reach to new countries? Or deepen" the binds between member countries? Or is it time to concede that voters across the Continent prefer sovereignty to be exercised within national states. Presenter: David Aaronovich Producer: Sally Abrahams Researcher: Kirsteen Knight Editor: Andrew Smith

As the Brexit negotiations rumble on Britain appears more divided than ever. This week David Aaronovitch and his guests ask how deep is that division and what it would take to unify the country?Contributors: Professor Sara Hobolt, London School of Economics Professor Sir John Curtice, University of Strathclyde Margaret MacMillan, emeritus Professor of International History at Oxford University Deborah Mattinson, Founder, BritainThinks Paula Surridge, Senior Lecturer, University of Bristol

With the route of the UK’s departure from the European Union still unclear, this week David Aaronovitch looks at Britain’s place in the world and assesses what lies ahead in the next stage of negotiations with the EU. Joining David in the Briefing Room are: Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University, Sam Lowe, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Reform, Meg Russell, Director of the Constitutional Unit at University College London and Stefanie Bolzen, London Correspondent of German newspaper, Welt.Producer: Jim Frank Editor: Jasper Corbett

The boss of Chinese telecoms giant, Huawei, says his company would never spy on behalf of the Chinese state. But some experts think it would be a mistake for Britain to involve the company in the development of the 5G network. What's the relationship between Huawei and the government in Beijing, is the company a reliable partner and what should Britain do? David Aaronovitch is joined by: Dr Linda Yueh, Economist at the University of Oxford and author of 'The Great Economists'. Wanyuan Song, BBC Journalist Jan-Peter Kleinhans, Project Director IoT-Security at Stiftung Neue Verantwortung Professor Steve Tsang, Director of the China Institute, the School of Oriental and African Studies Charlie Parton, Senior Associate Fellow, Royal United Services Institute Emily Taylor, Editor, Chatham House's Journal of Cyber Policy Dr Tim Stevens, Lecturer in Global Security, King's College London

The Conservative chairman of the Education Select Committee called GCSEs 'pointless' and said they should be abolished. David Aaronovitch asks if it is time for the exam system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to be completely overhauled. GUESTS Sandra Leaton Gray Associate Professor in Education at University College London’s Institute of Education Laura McInerney, former editor of Schools Week and education writer Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Sir Mike Tomlinson, former Chief Inspector for Ofsted Lord Baker, former Education Secretary who brought in GCSEs Peter Mandler, cultural historian at Cambridge University

The Japanese car maker Nissan has announced its next generation of SUVs will be made, not in Sunderland as planned, but in Japan. Jaguar Land Rover has announced big losses and Honda has announced job cuts at its plant in Swindon. David Aaronovitch and guest discuss why the car industry is facing such uncertain times and if it will ever recover. Guests: Professor David Bailey, Aston Business School Dan Coffey, Leeds University Business School Professor Matthias Holweg, Said Business School, Oxford University Catherine Faiers, Operations Director, Autotrader Peter Campbell, Global Motor Industry Correspondent, The Financial Times Ian Henry, Managing Director, AutoAnalysis

New figures show a slight decline in people sleeping rough in England. But since 2010 the trend has been upwards. Why? And what can be done about it?David Aaronovitch talks to guests about the drivers that lead people to sleep rough, and how the UK is dealing with the problem now. GUESTSRisha Lancaster - Co-Founder of Coffee4Craig in Manchester and a volunteer at a night shelter Michael Buchanan - BBC Social Affairs Correspondent Louise Casey - Head of the government's Rough Sleepers Unit from 1999 - 2003 Nicholas Pleace - Director of Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York Jon Sparks - CEO of homeless charity, Crisis