Farm map problems prompt ministerial action

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Ministers have been urged to act over problems with maps used to pay subsidies to farmers.

David Taylor (Lab, Leicestershire North West) asked ministers whether there were aware of the problems with the rural land register which is "at the heart" of the subsidy scheme.

He noted that over 120,000 farmers have received maps of their land yet they still show "remarkable things" such as hedges and walls that were removed in the 1950s.

Taylor asked: "What confidence can we have that the single farm payment in 2020 will be based on accurate data?"

In response, environment minister Jim Fitzpatrick stated that complaints about the mapping of farmland will be placed at the top of the agenda.

"I can reassure you that the mapping procedures, which are being conducted at the moment, will not affect this year's payments," he explained.

"I have a meeting with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) chief executive next week and the mapping arrangements are at the top of the agenda.

"The mapping situation is causing concern. We are aware of it. We are dealing with it and we will make sure that it won't cause the problems we have seen before with the RPA."

Shadow environment minister Richard Benyon said the response had not been "good enough"

He criticised the RPA for sending out the wrong maps to farmers, providing them with just 28 days to responded at the "busiest time of the year"

"This shows the RPA is still an incompetent organisation," he added.

Fitzpatrick said he was aware of the anxiety being caused, stating: "We need to update the maps, this will allow us to put them online which will make it easier for farmers in the future."

Earlier in the exchanges, Martin Linton (Lab, Battersea) called on the government to scale back the costs of the single payment scheme.

Fitzpatrick responded that the government is continuing to reform the system and is pressing Europe for more change.

Government action was also urged on the issue of compensation for milk producers affected by the end of the Dairy Farmers of Britain (DFOB).

Environment secretary Hilary Benn told MPs that action was being taken to find other buyers of milk for those dairy farmers affected, noting "considerable progress" since the collapse in early June.

Lindsay Hoyle (Lab, Chorley) called for a full inquiry into the DFOB. "What we need is you to call for a full inquiry into what has happened with Dairy Farmers of Great Britain," he insisted.

But the environment secretary said he was not sure that an inquiry is required. "Dairy Farmers of Britain had problems and in the end, despite the efforts of the members, it was not capable of being saved," he said.

David Jones (Conservative, Clwyd West) asked what talks had taken place with DFOB, urging them to take responsibility for "over optimistic" assessments.

"Given that so many farmers have lost so much money already and stand to lose even more, will you or your colleagues, when considering in future the failure of the co-operative, take into account the actions of the directors," Jones urged.

Benn said that he understood the concerns but added there had been "no secret for some while" that DFOB was in difficulty.

During topical questions, Adam Price (Plaid Cymru, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) suggested that since "nationalisation was the flavour of the month", the government should follow the example of Italy in providing compensation to dairy famers.

"Why doesn't the British government agree to provide similar support to the thousands of British dairy farmers affected by the collapse of Dairy Farmers of Britain?"

Benn responded that the most important thing the government had done was to work with all involved to help ensure farmers can find other buyers for their milk.