Rural Payments Agency report

Thursday, 29 Mar 2007 08:29

Committee: Farm payments scheme a catastrophe

Farmers lost millions due to payment failures

Thursday, 29, Mar 2007 12:00

The environment, food and rural affairs committee has described the introduction of the single payment scheme (SPS) for farmers as a "fiasco" and "catastrophe".

The report recommends former environment secretary Margaret Beckett be held to account for the failure, which cost farmers millions after payments were delayed, and could see the department fined by the European Union.

Committee chairman Michael Jack said: "The report confirms that responsibility and accountability stretches from the top of Defra all the way to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), but so far only one man has paid for this failure by losing his job: the former RPA chief executive Johnston McNeill."

"We believe if accountability is to mean anything then the position of others must now be seriously questioned.

"Those involved should examine their consciences about the role they played in this failed venture which could well cost Defra and farmers up to half a billion pounds."

Govt: Confident RPA can deliver on payments

Countryside Alliance: Double whammy of RPA failure

NFU: Defra was warned about payment problems

Lib Dems: Heads should have rolled over RPA failure

Tories: Ministers rewarded for farm payments failure

Committee: Farm payments scheme a catastrophe

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