SINGLE FARM PAYMENTS (No. 4)

That this House regrets the emotional and financial distress experienced by farmers as a result of the Rural Payments Agency single farm payment fiasco this year, including £22.5 million lost by farmers in interest and fees to banks; further regrets that the system will not be running adequately, as the Minister for Sustainable Food and Farming has confirmed (Official Report, House of Lords, 30th October 2006, column 8), until 2008; notes that much of the distress caused this year was as a result of Ministers raising expectations and subsequently missing self-imposed targets on payment deadlines; urges the Government not to make the same mistake twice; and further urges the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to do everything possible to ensure the Rural Payments Agency makes substantial part payments as soon as possible.