Rural Payments Agency: Basic Payment Scheme

Lord Herbert of South Downs Excerpts
Tuesday 24th March 2015

(9 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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George Eustice Portrait George Eustice
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It is a matter of record that the project is intended to cost in the region of £154 million. All such projects are monitored by the Major Projects Authority within the Cabinet Office.

Lord Herbert of South Downs Portrait Nick Herbert (Arundel and South Downs) (Con)
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The important thing is that farmers can submit their claims on time and that the Government have rightly taken action to enable them to do so. In learning the lessons, will my hon. Friend recall that a decade ago only 15% of farmers were being paid on time by the Rural Payments Agency? Under this Government, that figure is now 98%, so he should take no lessons from the Labour party.

George Eustice Portrait George Eustice
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My right hon. Friend is absolutely right; the Labour party, when in government, allowed chaos to continue year after year. We have acted swiftly to ensure that farmers can get their applications in on time this year.