Rural Payment Agency 'becoming dependent' on bridging payments

Bridging payments aren't a ‘get out of jail free card’ for the RPA, tenant farmers say
Bridging payments aren't a ‘get out of jail free card’ for the RPA, tenant farmers say

Farmers have highlighted their concerns over the Rural Payment Agency becoming 'dependent' on using bridging payments rather than fixing the root issue with payment delays.

Farmers still to receive their 2018 BPS payment and advanced payments for 2018 Countryside Stewardship (CS) will receive a bridging payment from the 12 April 2019.

But the use of bridging payments gives the Rural Payment Agency (RPA) a ‘get out of jail free card’ in the short term, according to the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA).

The group says that using this mechanism as a regular method to enable payments rather than getting to the root cause of the issues isn't good enough for farmers.

TFA Policy Adviser, Lynette Steel said that it 'raises questions' surrounding the underlying performance of the agency.

“The use of bridging payments gives the RPA a ‘get out of jail free card’ in the short term. Greater questions need to be addressed by the agency as to the cause of the delayed payments in the first instance,” she said.

While bridging payments will be welcomed by BPS and CS agreement holders, those with land in Environmental Stewardship (ES) schemes are still facing lengthy delays in receiving payments.

Ms Steel added: “There are fundamental issues with the ES scheme, which has resulted in payment delays. Despite regular meetings with stakeholders, the agency’s refusal to communicate the root cause of these problems continues to be a point of frustration.

“Ministers are simply taking too long to action the required improvement plan needed to rectify the delayed payments,” she said.

The TFA is calling for Defra to take 'immediate action' to restore confidence in these schemes.

Meanwhile, the RPA has announced that it has completed over 98 percent of 2018 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments in advance of the June deadline.