Farm subsidies to be published on the internet

Details of subsidy payments to individual farmers are to be made publicly available on a single website from next month.

Due to be launched on 30 September, the website will show details of Common Agricultural Policy payments made in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales under the Rural Development Programmes during 2007.

Details of the previous year’s CAP payments will be published on the website annually from April 2009. This information will also include payments made under the Single Payment Scheme.

Members of the public will be able to see the name of the business under which the claim was made, payments received for the year in question, the local town and the first three or four digits of the recipient’s postcode.

European Union rules mean the Rural Payments Agency is obliged to release information on CAP payments. Although much information has already been published, this is the first time it will be available on a single website.

Farmers requiring information on their rights under the new arrangements are being advised to log on to www.rpa.gov.uk and click on “Access to information”, then “Personal data”. Those without internet access can call 0845 603 7777.