Contact/Cyswllt:  Sian Cliff
02920 898342 / sian.cliff@wales.gov.uk

Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Rural Affairs, Mick Bates AM, has challenged the Labour-Plaid Government to take action on cross border payments which cause huge injustice to farmers in Wales.

“It seems to me to be grossly unfair that the effectiveness and efficiency of the payments system in Wales be blackened by the inefficiency of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) in England. Payments are not allowed to be made to Welsh farmers until the RPA has sent confirmation of land held in England to the Welsh Assembly Government.

“This current system causes long delays in making the payments, which is an extremely anxious and frustrating time for our farmers. This is a disgrace and I hope that the Minister here ensures that these delays are brought to an end so that payments can be made as soon as possible.

“I call on the Labour-Plaid Government to take some action to address this issue which has for so long blackened the effective payments system in Wales.”


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