To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many single payments were made in each of the last three years for which figures are available; how many such payments were monitored; and in how many cases reductions were made. (318843)

[holding answer 1 March 2010]: The number of farmers who received payments under the single payment scheme (SPS) in England in respect of each scheme year is set out in the following table:

Latest figures show that, as at 23 February 2010 over 98,000 farmers have received payment for the 2009 scheme year, the payment window for which closes on the 30 June.

There are a number of farmers who have not received a payment because their claim is still undergoing the necessary validation checks. Some of these claims may result in no payment being due to the claimant once eligibility checks have been carried out.

All claims undergo validation as part of the Rural Payment Agency's regular processes and in addition a minimum of 5 per cent. are inspected, physically or remotely, as required by the EU. For cross compliance purposes, each of the four competent control authorities inspect at least 1 per cent. of farmers receiving payments that are conditional on meeting the cross compliance requirements for which they have responsibility. RPA uses existing cattle and sheep inspection regimes to partly satisfy this obligation.

The number of SPS claims which have been reduced is set out in the following table:

This includes a very substantial number of minor over-declarations of areas as well as more significant breaches of the scheme rules where we have to apply sanctions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at which locations the Single Payment Scheme is administered; how many people administer the scheme at each such location; and whether he has any proposals to reduce the number of (a) locations and (b) staff. (318845)

[holding answer 1 March 2010]: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) currently operates from six main offices and there are no plans to reduce that number. RPA reviews, and will continue to review, its operations and resources regularly to ensure customer service is delivered effectively and efficiently. It is anticipated that RPA will reduce the number of staff employed at each office during the 2010-11 year.

Claims under the Single Payment Scheme are currently processed at RPA's offices in Exeter, Northallerton, Newcastle, Workington and Carlisle. Plans have recently been announced to transfer SPS processing from Newcastle to the Workington, Carlisle and Northallerton offices.

Staff at RPA's Reading office no longer process SPS claims but are involved in different aspects of administering the scheme.

At the end of January 2010 the number of full-time equivalent staff involved in administering the Single Payment Scheme is:

RPA operates a flexible resourcing model and staff reductions are usually achieved through the reductions of temporary and fixed term appointments with regular consultation taking place with people and trade unions on any planned staff reductions.