To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms in each district authority in Cumbria are eligible for single payment scheme payments; how many received SPS payments in the 2006-07 financial year; and what percentage of farmers this represents in each case. (132101)

Detailed analysis by constituency, area or category of the payments made under the single payment scheme is not available.

As of 18 April 2007, a total of 98,395 of farmers in England have received either a full or partial payment under the 2006 single payment scheme year, and 10,605 farmers, equating to 9.7 per cent. of the estimated total claimant population, have not received any payment. The total cash value of all outstanding payments is £415.16 million. The Rural Payment Agency’s target is to pay 96.14 per cent. of the total value of the fund by 30 June 2007.

There are 30 2005 claims that are outstanding and have not received full payment, totalling £261,054.88.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure that single farm payments are made in their entirety and on time. (132276)

The difficulties experienced in completing payments under the 2005 single payment scheme have inevitably impacted on the payment timetable for the 2006 scheme year. The Rural Payments Agency has made it clear that the target of paying 96.14 per cent. of claims by value by 30 June 2007 is challenging.

RPA is developing a comprehensive set of actions to recover from the problems of SPS 2005 and has already made several improvements to the way in which it operates. These changes will take into account the recommendations of the EFRA Select Committee, National Audit Office and other inquiries.

As of 18 April 2007, RPA had paid £1.12 billion in full or partial SPS 2006 payments to 98,395 claimants. The Department and RPA continue to work closely to ensure that the remaining claims and top-up payments where a partial payment has been made, are paid as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of farmers in England are awaiting single payment scheme payments from financial year 2006-07; how many farms this represents; what the total cash value is of these outstanding payments; and when these payments are expected to be made. (132278)

As of 18 April 2007, a total of 98,395 of farmers in England have received either a full or partial payment under the 2006 single payment scheme year, and 10,605 farmers, equating to 9.7 per cent. of the estimated total claimant population, have not received any payment. The total cash value of all outstanding payments is £415.16 million. The Rural Payments Agency target is to pay 96.14 per cent. of the total value of the fund by 30 June 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers received Single Farm Payments of more than (a) £40,000 and (b) £50,000 in 2006. (132295)

[holding answer 20 April 2007]: 1,429 farmers received single payment scheme payments of more than £40,000 and less than £50,000 in 2006.

2,434 farmers received SPS payments of more than £50,000 in 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms are eligible for single farm payments; how many single farm payments were made in 2006; and what the average value was of those payments. (132296)

[holding answer 20 April 2007]: The 119,374 claimants who received entitlements in 2005 are therefore eligible to claim under the single payment scheme (SPS): 116,914 payments were made in 2006 with an average value of £13,165.98.