Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many farmers have been helped at each of the drop-in centres established by the Rural Payments Agency to help register claims under the Basic Payment scheme.

The Rural Payments Agency does not record the number of customers who call into drop in centres. 375 pre requested appointments have been completed so far and over 500 others are expected to conclude over the coming week. Our 50 drop in centres have provided a range of support to farmers, initially allowing them to register on to Rural Payments helping us register more than 81,000 customers, and receiving completed claims.