CLA welcomes RPA’s business plan

The CLA has welcomed the Rural Payments Agency’s (RPA) Business Plan for 2012/13 to further improve its performance but said it is essential the Agency remains accountable.

CLA North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said: “The RPA has greatly improved and is now starting to work with farmers rather than against them. This business plan is very welcome and presents a confident strategy on how the Agency will deliver a better service to support British farmers and food producers, especially when dealing with new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) schemes.

“Technology has always been a major issue with the RPA but by working with stakeholders such as the CLA, it has proactively addressed these concerns and is now making steps in the right direction to ensure it meets its targets.”

However, Miss Fairburn added: “Inaccurate and untimely payments to farmers have cost the UK millions of pounds in European Commission fines and forced some businesses into financial hardship so it is important the business plan is evaluated to ensure real progress is made. The RPA must remain accountable by measuring its performance.”

The CLA attends monthly stakeholder meetings at the RPA to highlight members’ concerns and make sure the Agency provides consistent advice.