Welsh Government confirmation that 56 farmers have remained waiting far past the intended deadline for Basic Payment Scheme payments has sparked calls for improvements to the Rural Payments system.

Janet Finch-Saunders AM, who uncovered the figures through a Written Assembly Question (WAQ) said:

“This is simply not good enough. Every day that farmers and their families have to wait without the payments owed to them is a day of worry and stress.

“The knock-on effects to other business and the local economy can also be significant.

“Late payment of BPS funds, administered through the Welsh Labour Government, has been a devastating trend over the past few years, and enough is enough. The Welsh Government must review their processes and ensure that this situation does not arise again next year.”

ENDS

Notes:

Payments are intended, by Welsh Government, to be made by the end of April: http://gov.wales/docs/drah/publications/151118-basic-payment-scheme-latest-update-november-2015-en.pdf

The AM raised this matter in Plenary, 28-06-2017, to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs. The transcript can be found here: http://www.assembly.wales/en/bus-home/Pages/Plenary.aspx?assembly=5&category=Record%20of%20Proceedings

A video of the exchange can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YgWO0Scj8g