Rural Payments Agency Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Livsey of Talgarth
Main Page: Lord Livsey of Talgarth (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Livsey of Talgarth's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(14 years, 1 month ago)
Lords ChamberMy Lords, the noble Viscount makes a very interesting suggestion. My understanding is that most of the form is already pre-printed with the information from the previous year on it, and it is then open to the individual merely to sign at the end. I understand that there were consultations in the past with various people in the industry about whether the noble Viscount’s suggestion would be possible, but there was no great interest in it at that stage. Again, though, we will look at that as part of the review.
My Lords, will my noble friend the Minister acknowledge that £90 million of taxpayers’ money has been paid in fines to the EU for incompetently processed payments? Does he agree that his department should look at one option at the end of the six-month inquiry: the abolition of the RPA?