First Minister admits fault over late payments to farmers (Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats)

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Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats <montlibdems@gmail.com>

First Minister admits fault over late payments to farmers

November 11, 2008 12:00 AM

Under fire from Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates over late payments to farmers in a time of economic crisis, the First Minister today admitted WAG could be at fault where discrepancies are due to errors over reconciling maps under different agricultural schemes. Mick is calling on farmers across Wales to contact him with evidence of their experience, so that the First Minister can wake up to the reality of the impact of delayed payments on the Welsh agricultural industry.

Commenting in the chamber Mick stated:

"Gordon Brown recently announced that Government payments to small businesses would be made within 10 days, to help them through this economic downturn. And yet, here in Wales our agricultural industry is suffering from delayed payments by the Labour-Plaid Government, with 435 Tir Gofal and 22 Tir Cynnal payments still awaiting payment and outstanding payments under the Organic Farming Scheme.

"It is unacceptable that an administrative technicality in reconciling the maps drawn up for Tir Cymru, the Organic Payment and Single Farm Payment schemes have raised so many queries, delaying the validation of Single Farm Payments and in turn payments under other schemes. These late payments are affecting farmers' cash flow and decreasing the viability of our Welsh agricultural industry.

"At a time of economic downturn when people are struggling financially, it is vital that the Assembly Government pays farmers the long overdue money that they are owed as soon as possible.

"I am pleased that the First Minister has admitted that the Assembly Government could be to blame where delays are due to discrepancies over the use of maps. Farmers are rightly losing confidence in the Assembly Government's ability to deliver agri-environment schemes.

"I urge people to get in touch and let me know of their own experiences. I will then present this evidence to the Labour-Plaid Government, so that they can wake up to the reality of the impact of these delays on farmers across Wales and we can ensure that we do not see this situation occur again in the future."

End/Diwedd