25 February 2010 - 06/10
Latest figures, published today show that over 98,000 farmers from the estimated total claimant population of 107,500 have received a full SPS payment from RPA and that 90% of the estimated total fund of £1.86 billion has now been paid for SPS 2009.
Some 2,000 of the remaining claims have been processed and resulted in no payment being due. This situation arises where, for example, farmers hold entitlements for the wrong area type, have submitted duplicate claim forms or will receive payment from the Devolved Administrations.
Processing now continues on approximately 7,500 claims where no payment has been made to date and RPA is working to finalise these as quickly as possible. Some of these are complex cases involving probate, business partnership changes and domestic issues. It is likely that work on these claims will reveal that some will not be eligible for payment. Claims which are confirmed will be paid as soon as possible.
RPA has now met the second of its formal targets of making 90% of payments, by value, by the end of March 2010.
Notes to editors
RPA is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It is the single paying agency responsible for CAP schemes in England and is responsible for administering the Single Payment Scheme. Other key services include carrying out rural inspections and livestock tracing.
Media only contact: Caroline Forcer, RPA Press Office , 0118 968 7680 caroline.forcer@rpa.gsi.gov.uk
Page published: 25 February 2010