Pesticides ban

Allister Craddock
Politics Show East Midlands

East Midlands farmers tell the Politics Show that plans by the European Union to curb the use of pesticides could have a devastating impact on crop yields.

EU pesticide ban disastrous?

The National Farmers Union maintains that up to 85% of pesticides could be taken off the market.

In a special outside broadcast from his farm in Rutland, Andrew Brown, takes on East Midlands member of the European Parliament, Glenis Willmott.

She says new controls are needed to protect the environment and reduce risks to people's health.

Andrew Brown argues that cutting the number of available pesticides will mean fungi will build a greater resistance to spraying.

So who's right? And is there a middle way between protecting the environment and helping our farmers produce the crops we all need?

Our political editor, John Hess, will be on location

Early intervention

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The Politics Show returns to a story we first covered last year when Labour MP, Graham Allen, revealed his plans to make Nottingham an "Early Intervention City".

His aim - to get extra help for parents and their children in some of the most deprived areas of his constituency.

Well now, the idea is being championed by former Tory leader, Ian Duncan Smith.

And the two have combined political forces to push the idea nationally.

They've co-authored a book which spells out the scale of the problem and why a concerted national approach is the only viable answer.

They say they share the belief that "large parts of our society are massively underachieving and the financial costs of this are both enormous and multiplying".

They stress: "We are convinced that it is cheaper and more sensible to tackle problems before they begin, rather than spend ever greater sums on ineffective remedial policies."

They clearly have in mind the cost of prison, drug rehabilitation and sometimes a lifetime on benefits.

Jane Dodge reports on how the initiative is already gaining ground in Nottingham.

Early projects include more help for vulnerable young mums and children being encouraged to discuss their feelings in school.

Graham Allen will be telling Marie Ashby more about how the policy is taking shape.

Children forced into marriage

Derby's Jasvinder Sanghera tirelessly campaigns to prevent women from ethnic minorities being forced into marriage.

Now she has revealed that children as young as nine are at risk.

One girl, from the East Midlands, told her teacher she was going to be forced to marry someone. She is now in foster care.

Jasvinder, who ran away from home to escape the same thing happening to her, tells the Politics Show she wants Ministers to make sure that all primary school children are alerted to the dangers.

Her charity, Karma Nirvana, deals with 5,000 inquiries and 300 cases of forced marriage a year.

Join Marie Ashby for the Politics Show in the East Midlands this Sunday at the later time of 1400 on BBC One.

Ring us with your views on 0500 900 900 or email on the form below.

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