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 difficulties in registering land on the Rural Payments Agency system for connection with basic form payments; and if she will make a statement.

The Secretary of State has spoken with industry bodies and the Rural Payments Agency is now providing extra help for farmers to ensure that all farm businesses can submit their Basic Payment Scheme claims by the deadline.

From Monday 23 March, farmers and their agents can use established forms and processes to complete their claims by the deadline. The RPA will input the data into the core system. All agents will soon have received maps of their clients’ land and those dealing with the most complex cases will be offered additional support. The RPA is also working to give them direct access to the system. If farmers or agents need help they should contact the Rural Payments Agency helpline on 0300 0200 301.