90% Of Welsh Farmers To Receive Basic Payment Scheme Payments On First Day
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, has announced that almost 90% of farmers’ Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) claims will be paid when the new payments window opens on Thursday (1st December).
Announcing the news on the opening day of the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed that £173m will be paid into the bank accounts of 13,176 Welsh farmers on the first day of the payment window.
Welcoming the news, the Cabinet Secretary said:
“I am delighted to announce Wales has returned to its usual excellent performance, with almost 90% of farmers receiving their BPS payments on the first day.
“This exceptional performance has been helped by our move to online only applications, which has reduced bureaucracy, allowing applications to be processed quickly and efficiently. We are the only home nation to provide a 100% digital approach to these applications.
“Our leading payment performance has also been greatly aided from working with the farming unions and agents who have offered assistance to many farmers in making their applications. I am grateful to them, and to Welsh farmers who have embraced RPW Online and made the new system such a success.”
The Winter Fair is another opportunity for the Cabinet Secretary to discuss the implications of the UK’s decision to leave the EU with the industry and reassure farmers about future BPS payments.
The Cabinet Secretary added:
“There will of course be concerns around the future of BPS and similar schemes as a result of the EU referendum decision. While we remain a member of the EU this scheme will continue. We have also received assurances from the Treasury that BPS will be fully funded until 2020.”
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