To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will re-examine the position of commoners associations as the vehicle for making single farm payments to those who graze on commons; and which cases of such payments have been suspended. (133133)

A number of claims have been submitted under the single payment scheme by commoners associations and those that the Rural Payments Agency have confirmed meet the scheme eligibility criteria have been allocated entitlements and received associated payments. The eligibility status of remaining claims is being considered on a case-by-case basis with the commoners associations concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which farm payment deadlines missed by the UK in 2003-04 led to the European Commission’s recovery of 53.7 million euros; and from which budget he expects funds recovered to be paid. (134683)

This sum represents the deductions made to UK re-imbursements in the 2004 EU financial year in respect of mainly bovine direct aid payments relating to earlier scheme years. While the relevant Commission decision has only recently been published, the deductions were applied at the time and there will be no further impact on the UK Exchequer in relation to them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which EU member state was subject to the greatest financial correction as a result of non-respect of payment deadlines in 2003-04. (134684)

On the basis of decisions published to date, the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what percentage of claimants in (a) Torridge and West Devon and (b) the south-west for the single farm payment scheme in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006 have been paid their payments (A) in full and (B) in part. (140797)

As of 6 June 2007, a total of 104,618 farmers in England have received either a full or partial payment under the 2006 single payment scheme year. This total includes 98,750 full and 5,868 partial payments. This represents 96 per cent. of the estimated total claimant population of 109,000.

RPA’s target is to pay 96.14 per cent. of the total value of the fund by 30 June 2007.

Detailed analysis of all the payments made under the single payment scheme is not yet available. Once the remaining scheme payments have been completed, a decision will be taken on the level of detail that will be published.