Farmers must receive payments in full
March 16, 2006 8:27 PM
Chris Huhne MP says farmers must receive payments in full immediately
Liberal Democrats are calling on DEFRA minister, Margaret Beckett, to sort out the delays in payments from the Rural Payments Agency.
Commenting on the announcement from Margaret Beckett, that the Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency has been sacked, Liberal Democrat Shadow DEFRA Secretary, Chris Huhne MP, said:
"It is extraordinary that a DEFRA minister should assure the House of Commons last Thursday that the Rural Payments Agency is on track to make its payments as scheduled, and then sack the Chief Executive just a week later.
"Ministers appear oblivious to the many rural livelihoods depend on timely payment: the assurances that Jim Knight gave to the House a week ago are clearly not worth the paper that Hansard printed them on.
"Will the Government pay the bulk of what is expected by the end of March, as promised?
"In Scotland and Wales, payments have already been made. Only in England is there a problem because DEFRA ministers decided on a complex new system. This is proof that where powers are devolved, they are often executed better.
"For those farmers who have substantial debts to service, this is the worst possible news. I will press DEFRA to contact the banks and other lenders to ensure that they exercise forbearance. If there is a further delay, DEFRA need to assure farmers that their extra costs of interest will be met.
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