§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will establish an independent appeal system for farmers in disagreement with her Department over the processing, interpretation or assessment of applications for financial support and other statutory services and procedures. [16400]
§ Mr. MorleyA consultation paper was issued in December 2000 on the introduction of an independent appeals procedure for farmers wishing to contest decisions to reduce or withhold payments under IACS (Integrated Administration and Control System) subsidy schemes in England. We announced on 15 May that we would work with industry to introduce new arrangements as soon as we can. Since then. DEFRA officials including the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) have been working on the details of the procedure prior to further consultation with the industry. The RPA is also working on parallel procedures for non-IACS schemes. In addition to this new procedure a senior DEFRA official acts as the Department's Impartial Complaints Adjudicator to investigate complaints about standards of service provided by the Department.