Rural Payments Agency report

Thursday, 29 Mar 2007 08:29

Govt: Confident RPA can deliver on payments

Thursday, 29, Mar 2007 12:00

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has said it is "confident" the problems at the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will be addressed.

A report from the environment, food and rural affairs select committee today condemned the RPA and Defra's handling of the single payment scheme to farmers.

Payments were late or miscalculated causing financial hardship for many farmers.

A Defra spokeswoman said: "Defra has apologised for the problems farmers have experienced as a result of the implementation of the single payment scheme - this has caused a great deal of distress to the farming industry and the wider rural community

"A new management team is in place at the RPA. We are confident that the senior management team can deliver."

She added: "There will be no let up in putting in place further measures aimed at delivering a stable and reliable payment system in the years ahead."

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

Farmers lost millions due to payment failures

Tories: Ministers rewarded for farm payments failure

Committee: Farm payments scheme a catastrophe

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