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Farming Today: Live exports, River pollution, Rural defibrillators

02/02/2018

Live exports, River pollution, Rural defibrillators

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, Live exports, River pollution, Rural defibrillators

The government confirms it's considering a ban of live animal exports.

As the government says it is considering a ban on live exports after Brexit, we consider whether it is a barbaric practice or a trade opportunity?

The government is considering a ban on the export of live animals for slaughter, and will put forward a consultation in the spring. A private members bill on the issue was due to be heard today, but has been withdrawn by its sponsor the Conservative MP Teresa Villiers. She told Farming Today that Michael Gove is preparing proposals on live exports for consultation - and is looking very seriously at a ban.
It's been an emotive issue for years, with campaigners blockading ports to halt what they say is a cruel trade which can see animals travelling long distances to sub-standard abattoirs in Europe. The UK's ferry companies stopped accepting the business in 2007 - one private boat still does still take animals from Ramsgate. But some farmers say a ban would be a major blow for post-Brexit trade, and say the real issue is about proper policing of transport standards.
Charlotte Smith gets two perspectives - one from Conservative MP Theresa Villiers, who was due to present the ban bill; another from Frank Langrish, who farms sheep in Sussex.

This week Farming Today has been focusing on issues surrounding water. In Wales, there are calls for more action against river pollution - which is sometimes caused by farms. Latest figures show that in the last three years, there have been nearly 3,000 incidents of pollution, but just 38 prosecutions by Natural Resources Wales. Mariclare Carey-Jones has been to the River Neath to find out more about the role of farming in such incidents.

In a medical emergency, the wait for an ambulance can mean the difference between life and death - and for people in rural areas, the implications are obvious. Now, the Scottish Ambulance Service is encouraging remote communities to do more to help themselves. Moira Hickey's been to meet Dave Chapman and Ken Glass in Moray - they were inspired to launch a medical support charity after their own emergency experience last year.

Presented by Charlotte Smith; produced by Lucy Taylo.

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