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National Reserve ‘Alternative Investors’
The Minister has asked RPA to review those National Reserve applications from 2005 where the applicant applied to be considered under the ‘alternative method’ for Investors.
The review will not include the standard Investor method or any other type of National Reserve application (including Dairy Converters).
Reason for review
In England, RPA wrote to a number of applicants explaining that their application for an award as an alternative Investor had been rejected on the grounds that either they had not experienced a force majeure/exceptional circumstance event or that they already qualified for an award under the standard Investor calculation.
As neither of these factors was specified as a requirement for an alternative Investor award in the Single Payment Scheme Handbook and Guidance for England 2005, RPA is now reviewing such cases to ensure that they are assessed against the criteria which were described in that handbook.
Scope of review
If a farmer applied in 2005 for a National Reserve award as an alternative Investor the case may now be reviewed. However, no new evidence will be accepted.
RPA will review those cases where the applicant has already submitted a formal appeal, or where we have identified that they have made a representation against our decision on their alternative Investor National Reserve application. If you would like your case to be reviewed, and have not already been notified by RPA that we are doing so, you should write to RPA to request a review. The details of who to write to are set out below.
RPA will only review cases where the applicant applied under the Investor category on their 2005 SPS application and where by 4 November 2005 they had requested an alternative calculation method to be used. The alternative Investor application will be reviewed on the basis of the evidence that was submitted by 4 November 2005.
Applications will be reviewed against the criteria set out in the Single Payment Scheme Handbook and Guidance for England 2005.
Please note, where key supporting information, such as an investment plan or evidence of financial provision for all aspects of the investment, was not provided by 4 November 2005 there will be no scope for the award to be increased by a review.
Also note that high BSPS scaleback in 2004 does not qualify applicants for a National Reserve award.
Customers who applied in 2005 as an alternative Investor and would like RPA to review their case, which will be done on the basis of the evidence they submitted in 2005, should write to RPA by 19 September 2008.
The letter must be headed ‘Alternative Investor Review’ and include the relevant SBI and business name. It should be sent to:
Rural Payments Agency
PO Box 1058
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE99 4YQ
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