PERFORMANCE OF THE RURAL PAYMENTS AGENCY

That this House notes with concern that the Rural Payments Agency failed to provide over 500 farmers with the necessary paperwork to submit a Hill Farm Allowance declaration for 2007; condemns the decision to place a one per cent. per working day late payment penalty on those claims filed between 2nd March 2007 and 27th March 2007; and urges the Government to instil more flexibility in the Rural Payments Agency to avoid similar situations occurring in the future.