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Common Agricultural Policy: Single Farm Payments

Answer

My Lords, farmers in receipt of the hill farm allowance are probably farming on some of the most difficult areas and are not the wealthiest of farmers. Their payments have been held up because of the way the rules have worked: they cannot get the hill farm allowance until the single farm payment has been dealt with. That has been a major problem. I assure my noble friend and the House that, as of my right honourable friend's Statement yesterday, we have reprioritised so that those who will be in receipt of the hill farm allowance have a higher priority than hitherto. I will be at the headquarters of the payments agency before the end of the week to see that priority being materialised.

Secondary information

Type

Oral question

Reference

681 c902 

Session

2005-06

Oral question type

Supplementary

Chamber / Committee

House of Lords chamber

Subjects

Agriculture Administrative delays Payments Subsidies Common agricultural policy