19 Dec 2007 - Ref 57/07
Latest figures released today by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) show that over 20,000 customers have now received full payments amounting to nearly £180 million for their SPS 2007 claims. Further full SPS payment runs are scheduled and RPA anticipates a total of some £250 million will have been paid to customers by the end of this week.
In a written statement yesterday, Hilary Benn, Secretary of State, confirmed that a series of full payment runs had been authorised by RPA following a pilot run of full payments announced on 10 December.
RPA is working towards making more full payments to more farmers earlier than last year, with a view to meeting its formal targets of making 75% of full payments, by value, by the end of March and 90% by end of May 2008.
Notes to Editors
1. 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 (SPS). Other key services include carrying out rural inspections and livestock tracing.
2. Full text of Mr Benn’s statement can be found at: http://www.rpa.gov.uk/rpa/index.nsf/vContentByTaxonomy/99C7A526D5F5EB9A802573B5003C5CAA?OpenDocument
Media only contact: Ciaran Baker, RPA Press Office, 0118 968 7680, ciaran.baker@rpa.gsi.gov.uk
Page published: 19 December 2007