27 July 2010 - 23/10
RPA Annual Report & Accounts
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) yesterday (26 July 2010) published its Annual Report and Accounts.
The report highlights aspects of RPA's performance and activities for the year 1 April 2009 - 31 March 2010.
Tony Cooper, Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency, said: "RPA continues to strive to provide a consistently good quality service for our customers and achieve all of our externally published targets.
“Our enhancement programme has resulted in faster payments for the 2009 Single Payment Scheme year and our dedication to improving and expanding our online services will continue to help bring down the cost of claim processing.
“The solutions made possible by the 2013 Defra Review of RPA, announced earlier this month, need to be embraced and pursued relentlessly.”
Additional highlights of the report include:
- the Agency running costs have reduced by about 22% over the last two years;
- 85% of farmers were paid their Single Payment Scheme (SPS) 2009 payment in December 2009 - the first month of the SPS payment window opening and in general, customer satisfaction levels are continuing to improve;
- the Agency met the target for recording 98% of notifications of births, deaths and movements of cattle on the Cattle Tracing System within 14 days of their receipt. More than 50% of cattle births and nearly 20% of movements were reported using the updated CTS Online website;
- the target for making 98% of Rural Development Programme for England payments in accordance with agreed Service Level Agreement targets was also met;
- The Agency regained its Investors in People accreditation in December 2009.
- ends -
Notes to Editors
1. RPA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), providing a range of key services in support of the department’s objectives, including making rural payments, carrying out rural inspections, and livestock tracing.
2. Printed copies of the report are available from
the Stationery Office.
3. The report is also available on the Agency’s website
www.rpa.gov.uk
Media only contact: Mel Capper, RPA Press Office, 0118 968 7680
melanie.capper@rpa.gsi.gov.uk
Page published: 27 July 2010