A 75 per cent bridging payment will be made available for those still awaiting BPS subsidies at the end of March, the Defra Secretary Andrea Leadsom has announced.
Andrea Leadsom took to the stand at NFU Conference 2017, in front of 1,500 delegates, to explain the secured agreement from the Treasury.
Ms Leadsom said: “Nearly 86,000 farmers are eligible for BPS payments, and for some of you, it makes up as much as 70% of your bottom line. I understand how important these payments are to you.
“I have this week secured agreement from the treasury to offer a 75% bridging payment to all those still affected by the BPS delay at the end of March.”
The Secretary of State said that, as of today( 21 February), 95.5% of farmers have received their BPS money, but she will continue to push for those 4,000 farmers still left behind.
Helping ease cash-flow
The National Farmers Union (NFU) has lobbied government for payments for farmers to help ease short-term cashflows and longer-term planning and investment at an uncertain time for many businesses.
On the CAP, Ms Leadsom called the system ‘flawed’ and drew attention to how it ‘tied farmers up in red tape’.
“It [the CAP] offers poor value for money and fails to address the key issues you face. It’s a blunt tool that offers little reward or recognition for the services farmers provide this country. And it’s desperately complicated,” she said.
“I am determined that we will do so much better for farmers when we leave the EU, with a system based on simpler, more effective rules, we’ll be free to grow more, sell more and export more of our Great British food.”
