GOVERNMENT MUST RE-EXAMINE SINGLE PAYMENT (SPS) SCHEME - WILLIAMS

2.27.44pm GMT Wed 29th Oct 2008

Responding today to a parliamentary question, which showed that the lowest SPS payment made in 2007 was for just £0.01 (or 1pence), Roger Williams MP, Liberal Democrat Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson, has called for the Government to re-examine the way in which payments are made.

Mr Williams said:

"The response I received shows that the smallest sum paid for the last year was £0.01.

"It costs roughly £450 to process each claim and to spend so much money on such a small claim is total folly.

"When some farmers are waiting long periods of time to receive their SPS the news that the Government are processing claims for a mere penny will not be welcome.

"The Government must look again at this matter and impose a realistic minimum claim in order that the system can operate properly."

NOTES:

The response to the parliamentary question can be found at:

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2008-10-20a.227308.h&s=section%3Awrans+speaker%3A11324#g227308.q0