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Written question asked by Anthony Steen (Conservative) on Wednesday, 10 March 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 March 2004. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Thursday, 18 March 2004 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3rd March 2004, 418 c941-2W, on the Rural Payments Agency, when she received the legal advice on alterations to claims; what steps she took to communicate it to applicants; and whether the legal advice reflected (a) decisions of or (b) guidance from the European institutions.
Answer

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2004, Official Report, columns 941-42W, on the Rural Payments Agency, when she received the legal advice on alterations to claims; what steps she took to communicate it to applicants; and whether the legal advice reflected (a) decisions of or (b) guidance from the European institutions. [160920] Alun Michael: The legal advice which formulated these procedures was not based on specific decisions or guidance from the European Institutions but by forming a practice enabling the correct aid to be paid with a defined audit trail linking the information provided to the aid paid and safeguarding the interests of the applicant and the Rural Payments Agency. This advice will be communicated to applicants on the IACS base forms for the 2004 scheme year. Applicants will be asked to sign rather than initial any changes and to reinforce this the accompanying supplement which updates the 2003 booklet has an entry under the heading "Points Relating To General Guidance For Completing The IACS Area Aid Application" as follows: "Correction fluid and changes 3. Correction fluid must not be used on the base form or the field data printout. Should an entry need changing it should be crossed through, the correct information entered and the change SIGNED and dated. If this procedure is not followed it may require the return of the claim which could delay the processing of the claim and incur penalties." The forms and the supplement are currently being mailed to all registered IACS applicants with completion expected by the end of March, all applicants should receive them by 8 April.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
160920; 419 c438-9W;419 c440-1W
Session
2003-04
Subjects
Applications Correspondence Legal opinion Forms Farmers Payments Rural Payments Agency Integrated administration and control system
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk