To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations his Department has received on farmers (a) becoming bankrupt and (b) being threatened with legal action by creditors related to delayed awards of rural payments. (101379)

The Rural Payments Agency has received representations from a number of 2005 Single Payment Scheme claimants about delays in making payments. Where cases of financial difficulty have been raised, the Agency has taken additional action where possible to expedite payment.