Committee puts Rural Payments Agency on Notice
30 November 2016
The Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee has today written to Mark Grimshaw, Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), to remind him of commitments he made to the Committee that 90% of farmers' Basic Payments Scheme (BPS) claims will be paid by the end of December. The 2016 payments window opens tomorrow, 1 December.
The Committee gives notice that it will follow up next Spring with Mr Grimshaw about the Agency's performance, once the December performance information is available.
Chair's comment
Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee Chair Neil Parish MP:
"Given the reliance of so many farmers and the wider rural community on the timely delivery of these payments it is vital that the RPA's words are matched by its actions. Mr Grimshaw expressed confidence in evidence to us earlier this month that the Agency will meet its target of paying 90% of BPS claims by 31 December 2016. We will be holding the RPA to this commitment.
In particular, the RPA's performance in paying 2015 claims for those who farm common land was lamentable and left many farmers in the lurch for many months. We expect much improved performance this year on paying these complex cases. We're holding the RPA's feet to the fire to ensure farmers get their payments on time."
Further information
Image: iStockphoto