§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the total amount of payments that are outstanding due to the industrial action being taken by the Rural Payments Agency, how many tenant farmers have been affected; and how much they are still owed. [HL1775]
§ Lord WhittyIndustrial action, which commenced in August, has mainly affected the arable area payments scheme. Payments under this scheme are made in a payment window running from 16 November to 31 January. In a normal year, 60 to 70 per cent. of the aid would be paid out in the first two to three weeks. This year the figure is likely to be a little over 50 per cent.
No details are available about the position of tenant farmers.