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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations she has received on the implementation of the basic farm payment scheme; and if she will make a statement.

We have engaged regularly with the farming industry and other interested groups on the implementation of the Basic Payment Scheme. This has included our formal consultation on the implementation of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in England in October 2013, to which we received nearly 5,000 responses. 720 people also attended our regional consultation events. Our response to that consultation was published on 19 December 2013, with a further response in February 2014.

Since last April we have published a series of ‘Countdown to CAP Reform’ leaflets to provide potential claimants, including farmers and landowners, with as much clarity as possible on progress in implementing the CAP in England as it has become available. We have continued to seek input from industry and other interested groups.