08 April 2009 - Ref 19/09
RPA issues reminder to Sugar Beet Machinery Contractors looking to claim compensation
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is reminding machinery contractors who have registered their interest in applying for compensation under the sugar beet restructuring scheme, to return their application forms to the agency by 30 April 2009.
The Sugar Restructuring Scheme has €1.4 million of financial aid available for contractors affected by sugar beet factory closures and who were contracted to sugar beet growers in the years 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Any machinery contractor who has not received an application form and guidance notes is urged to contact the agency’s Sugar Restructuring Team immediately on 0191 226 5308 or 0191 226 5306.
Completed forms should be returned to the Sugar Restructuring Team, Rural Payments Agency, PO Box 1058, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE99 4YQ.
Notes to editors:
1. The EU sugar restructuring scheme was agreed during the UK Presidency in 2005 and came into effect in 2006. Changes designed to enhance the scheme were agreed in September 2007 and published in October 2007.
2. Under the scheme sugar beet growers are also eligible for compensation. Approximately 6828 growers’ applications forms have been received by RPA.
3. British Sugar has submitted an application to surrender 165,000 tonnes of sugar quota allocated to them. This application enables British Sugar to claim €625 per tonne of sugar surrendered. The total aid available to British Sugar is €103 million, of which 10% is reserved for sugar beet growers and machinery contractors. Of this amount, 14% is available for machinery contractors.
4. Payment of all eligible claims will be made in full in June 2009. There will no longer be a second instalment in February 2010.
5. The Rural Payments Agency (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
Media Enquiries
Caroline Forcer, RPA Press Office, 0118 968 7680
e-mail: caroline.forcer@rpa.gsi.gov.uk.
Page published: 8 April 2009