EFFICIENCY OF THE RURAL PAYMENTS AGENCY

That this House notes that the National Audit Office has raised questions about the efficiency of the Rural Payments Agency when making Common Agricultural Policy payments to farmers; questions the level of scrutiny performed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that taxpayer funding of the agency is being used cost-effectively to provide a reliable service to the farming industry; welcomes the pledge by the Secretary of State to carry out a review into the agency; and calls on the Secretary of State to bring forward the proposed date of the review as a matter of priority.