§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding has been allocated to the Rural Payments Agency in each of the last five years. [82203]
§ Alun MichaelThe Rural Payments Agency (RPA) was established on 16 October 2001 as a single EU paying agency, combining the functions previously undertaken by the Intervention Board and the Defra paying agencies. RPA's published accounts for 2001–02 (HC 1197) give details of the funding allocated to the Agency in that financial year and for 2000–01 on a comparative basis. Combined figures for prior years covering the activities now administered by RPA have not been produced. RPA's budget for 2002–03 is shown in the table below.
RPA is partway through a £130 million restructuring programme that will deliver a step change in customer service when completed in 2005. These funds are ring fenced and are allocated separately, over and above the amounts quoted.
£000 2002–03 DEL administration 111,140 DEL programme 257,314 AME 1,933,988 Local authorities 6,495 Payments to DGD's 695,440 EU receipts -2,396,824 Net total 607,553