asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many single farm payments are outstanding for the years 2005 and 2006; and what proportion of the 2007 payments have been made. [HL3624]

There are eight payments outstanding for the 2005 single payment scheme (SPS) year and 42 outstanding for the 2006 SPS year.

The outstanding payments for these years relate to complex cases, mainly involving legal and probate issues.

Of the total estimated claimant population of 106,700, 91.7 per cent have received full SPS payment for the 2007 SPS year.

The RPA is working to finalise remaining payments as soon as possible.