§ Dr. NaysmithTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received on his plans to create a new CAP paying agency; and if he will make a statement. [150866]
§ Ms QuinWe have received no recent representations on the Ministry's plans to create a new CAP paying agency. A summary of the responses to the consultation exercise which we carried out last summer is available on the MAFF website.
Plans for creating the new CAP paying agency are progressing well. We are providing monthly updates to staff affected by the creation of the new agency, and will shortly be inviting key external stakeholders to the first meeting of a CAPPA users' group. This group will provide a forum to help us to ensure that the new agency takes full account of the needs of its customers.
We will be writing to all our customers next months with details of how the restructuring of MAFF's presence in the regions will affect them.