Fast turnover on aid claims
Fast turnover on aid claims
FARM subsidies could soon be dispatched within a day of forms being received, the chief of a new agency to streamline claims has told FARMERS WEEKLY.
Speaking after giving evidence to the House of Commons Agriculture Select Committee Johnston McNeill, chief executive of the new Common Agricultural Policy Paying Agency, said a switch to computerised claims would make this possible.
CAPPA will take charge of MAFF and Intervention Board subsidies this year. Farm minister Nick Brown hopes to switch 95% of subsidy claims online by 2004.
A 24-hour turnaround is feasible for some types of payments, provided claims arrive without errors or queries, said Mr McNeill. "Now that would be something for farmers, as I know how important these payments are."
During the hearing he told MPs that farmers would still be able to submit claims by paper until they were comfortable using new technology, unless the minister Nick Brown said otherwise.
However, he admitted that while information technology training would be offered, producers would not receive funding to buy computers.
MPs were surprised Mr McNeill could not provide figures on savings from computerising the system and urged him to remedy this.
They cautioned CAPPA not to be carried along with political pressure to maintain momentum but ensure the overhaul was properly thought through.
While six regional MAFF offices are not included in CAPPA plans, Mr McNeill told MPs that their future was not yet decided.
CAPPA is scheduled to begin operations from Apr 1 with a formal launch on Oct 16.