Figures released today show that, as at 8 December 2009, the Rural Payments Agency has made full SPS payments amounting to £1.33 billion to 87,664 customers. This represents nearly 72% of the total estimated fund value of £1.86 billion and 81% of the total estimated claimant number of 107,500 farmers.

RPA is working hard to finalise checks on the remaining claims and is aiming to pay farmers as quickly as possible.

Notes to editors:

RPA is working towards making more payments to more farmers earlier than last year, with a view to meeting its formal targets of making 75% of payments, by value, by the end of January and 90% by value by end of March 2010.
As part of the CAP Health Check, for 2009 the EU has revised RPA’s formal SPS target to make 95.238% of payments, by value, by the end of June 2010.