SPS payment rates announced

The new flat-rate entitlements for the three English regions under the 2008 single payment scheme have been announced by the Rural Payments Agency.

For non-severely disadvantaged areas the rate is €141.93 (£112.17/ha); for upland SDA other than moorland €116.21 (£91.84/ha); and for upland SDA moorland €20.53 (£16.22/ha). The flat-rate figure has increased from 30% to 45% for 2008, while the proportion based on historic payments has been reduced from 70% to 55%.

The entitlements are subject to RPA validation, plus European and national modulation, totalling 18%.

The RPA said it would send out 2008 entitlement statements in January 2009, but full SPS payments would be made as soon as possible after the payment window opened on 1 December.