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| Farmers using food banks after government payment delay | Farmers using food banks after government payment delay |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Hill farmers have had to use food banks following the government's failure to pay more than a thousand commoners their EU subsidies, the BBC has learnt. | Hill farmers have had to use food banks following the government's failure to pay more than a thousand commoners their EU subsidies, the BBC has learnt. |
| The Rural Payments Agency is still reviewing the 2015 basic payment claims for 1,200 people living on common land. | The Rural Payments Agency is still reviewing the 2015 basic payment claims for 1,200 people living on common land. |
| One couple with two young children said they had defaulted on their rent and were "living off a credit card". | One couple with two young children said they had defaulted on their rent and were "living off a credit card". |
| The RPA, the government body that pays farmers' EU subsidies, said it would resolve any issues as soon as possible. | The RPA, the government body that pays farmers' EU subsidies, said it would resolve any issues as soon as possible. |
| More on the farmers using food banks, and other news | |
| The BBC understands the issue has arisen from the digital re-mapping of all common land in England to calculate the 2015 BPS payments. | The BBC understands the issue has arisen from the digital re-mapping of all common land in England to calculate the 2015 BPS payments. |
| The family, who told the BBC they had been unable to pay their rent, farm 200 acres on the North York Moors. | |
| The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "In June we had to sell 40 ewes with lambs and this autumn we've sold more female lambs to pay the animals feed bills after our credit ran out. | The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "In June we had to sell 40 ewes with lambs and this autumn we've sold more female lambs to pay the animals feed bills after our credit ran out. |
| "We are now are using a credit card to buy food." | "We are now are using a credit card to buy food." |
| The subsidy they have not received, the basic payment, makes up 90% of their farm income. | The subsidy they have not received, the basic payment, makes up 90% of their farm income. |
| Julia Aglionby, from the Foundation for Common Land, said: "We are getting increasing numbers of hardship cases as people do not know where to turn. | Julia Aglionby, from the Foundation for Common Land, said: "We are getting increasing numbers of hardship cases as people do not know where to turn. |
| "It's a catalogue of errors by the RPA." | "It's a catalogue of errors by the RPA." |
| The charity Farming Community Network said it was issuing food bank vouchers to those with serious cash flow problems. | The charity Farming Community Network said it was issuing food bank vouchers to those with serious cash flow problems. |
| Mary Alford, who farms on Dartmoor in Devon, said she was still waiting for a third of her payment. | Mary Alford, who farms on Dartmoor in Devon, said she was still waiting for a third of her payment. |
| "I can't do a cash flow, the deadlines are constantly being broken and no one is accountable," she said. | "I can't do a cash flow, the deadlines are constantly being broken and no one is accountable," she said. |
| The European Commission has not commented on the delay in payments. | The European Commission has not commented on the delay in payments. |
| Rural Payments Agency problems | Rural Payments Agency problems |