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Rural Payments Agency

My Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for his kind remarks; I very much appreciate them. I accept the premise of what he says: this is a serious state of affairs for many farmers. That is why we regret so much that this has happened. I am afraid that I cannot offer to pay compensation. The issue of compensation does not arise, as the EU regulations governing the scheme provide for a payment window—as I think noble Lords know—until 30 June. It is not the end of March yet. Farmers have been aware for more than 12 months that payments would not be made until February 2006.