“After all this time since the problems first emerged, Defra and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) are still not properly addressing some of the most basic inadequacies.  There continues to be poor record keeping and Defra and the RPA continue to underestimate the scale of the work required.  There is scant regard to protecting public money and the administration cost per claim in England is now £1,743, which is more than six times higher than the cost in Scotland where it is £285 per claim.

“As an example of government failure, this sorry saga takes some beating.  Farmers in Scotland and across mainland Europe should thank their lucky stars that their payments are not administrated by the Rural Payments Agency”.