Lib Dems: Heads should have rolled over RPA failure

Farmers lost millions due to payment failures

Thursday, 29, Mar 2007 12:00

The Liberal Democrats have said Margaret Beckett should have been sacked, instead of promoted, after her former department was roundly criticised in a select committee report.

The environment, food and rural affairs committee report said the failures of the single payment scheme (SPS) cost farmers millions and could see the government fined by the European Union.

Lib Dem environment spokesman Chris Huhne said: "Heads should have rolled after this shambles. It is astonishing that instead of being sacked Margaret Beckett was promoted to foreign secretary."

He continued: "Until ministers take responsibility for their mistakes, as they used to do, there will be no incentive to concentrate on getting things right."

"In Scotland and Wales, farm payments were made without problems because ministers tailored their ambitions to their abilities. In England, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs fell flat on its face by trying to run before it could walk," said Mr Huhne.