Rural Payments Agency hands out £1.5bn for 2009

THE Rural Payments Agency has announced that just under £1.5bn has been paid out to farmers so far.

By The Newsroom

Published 8th Jan 2010, 15:18 BST

Updated 8th Jan 2010, 15:18 BST

Latest figures, published this week, show that, at December 31 2009, the total value of payments made under SPS for 2009 is just under 1.5bn which equates to just under 78 per cent of the estimated total fund of 1.86bn.

More than 91,000 farmers have now received their full SPS payment, representing nearly 85 per cent of the estimated total claimant population of 107,500.

A spokeswoman for the RPA said the agency is now "working hard to finalise checks on the remaining claims and is aiming to pay farmers as quickly as possible".

The announcement comes after another very difficult year for the troubled Government agency. A National Audit Office report into the agency's dealings was strongly critical.

The Yorkshire Post has revealed high staff turnover levels within the agency.

National Audit Office Yorkshire Post