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Farmers still wait for subsidies Farmers still wait for subsidies
(about 2 hours later)
Nearly 500 farmers in England are waiting for last year's European Union subsidies, almost six months after the official deadline, the government said.Nearly 500 farmers in England are waiting for last year's European Union subsidies, almost six months after the official deadline, the government said.
The Environment Minister, Lord Rooker, told the Lords a further 1,254 had received only an 80% part-payment.The Environment Minister, Lord Rooker, told the Lords a further 1,254 had received only an 80% part-payment.
He told peers: "Once again, on behalf of the government, I apologise for the delays in making these payments."He told peers: "Once again, on behalf of the government, I apologise for the delays in making these payments."
Delays to 2005 single-payment scheme subsidies have meant many farmers have had to borrow to make up the shortfall. The National Union of Farmers blamed "the complete incompetence of Defra and its agencies" for the delays.
The NFU's Anthony Gibson also said: "It's quite disgraceful when you consider most farmers in the rest of Europe have had their second payment."
Lord Rooker said 480 farmers were still waiting for payments from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) on 14 December, which compared with 911 cases eight days earlier.Lord Rooker said 480 farmers were still waiting for payments from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) on 14 December, which compared with 911 cases eight days earlier.
He said the 1,254 waiting for a "top-up" were about half the previous week's total.He said the 1,254 waiting for a "top-up" were about half the previous week's total.
The RPA, a government agency, allocates about £1.5bn under the EU's single farm payment scheme.The RPA, a government agency, allocates about £1.5bn under the EU's single farm payment scheme.
The system calculates a single annual subsidy for each farmer for looking after their land, rather than a series of payments for producing food.The system calculates a single annual subsidy for each farmer for looking after their land, rather than a series of payments for producing food.
But many farmers claim the long delays in payouts have driven them to despair and even bankruptcy. Many farmers claim the long delays in pay-outs have driven them to despair and even bankruptcy.