Philip Dunne MP, himself a farmer, said today: "The Government announced it would make interim payments to farmers but has given no indication of when. This is simply not good enough. Farmers all over my constituency are are getting desperate. There is no good reason why they could not immediately receive interim cheques for 80% of the previous year's payment."
Helen Williams of the Rural Stress Network in Shropshire said: " In the last 3 days I have spoken to 4 farmers who are so distressed they are feeling suicidal. Rumours are circulating that they may not be paid until October and I don't know what to say to them. They want me to say it's not true but how can I?"
Now another DEFRA deadline is looming causing more anxiety to stressed-out farmers. The RPA wrote to farmers at the end of March enclosing claim forms for 2006, due to be completed and returned by 15th May 2006. But the RPA's incompetence means few farmers have got their 2005 information agreed with the RPA to enable them to do this. If this deadline is not met, penalties for the farmers follow.
Mr Dunne added: "Farmers are in an impossible position, entirely of the Government's making. So I am backing Jim Paice MP, Shadow Agriculture Minister's call this week on DEFRA to scrap penalties on farmers until they have sorted out their own mess with last year's payments."
