Rural Payments Agency: Basic Payment Scheme

Mark Spencer Excerpts
Tuesday 24th March 2015

(9 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mark Spencer Portrait Mr Mark Spencer (Sherwood) (Con)
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I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I congratulate the Minister on taking decisive action and avoiding the disaster that the previous Government oversaw in 2006-07, when only 15% of farmers were paid on time. I congratulate him on listening to the National Farmers Union, the Country Land and Business Association and other groups that have made representations and on making sure that we find a system that operates and allows farmers to be paid.

George Eustice Portrait George Eustice
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My hon. Friend makes a good point; the Labour party did not grip the problems with the RPA, so there was over £600 million of disallowance and farmers were often paid over a year late—as he said, only 15% were paid on time.