Subsidy claims via internet questioned
Subsidy claims via internet questioned
By Johan Tasker
A CROSS-PARTY committee of MPs has raised serious doubts about MAFFs ability to transfer subsidy claims to the internet.
The House of Commons Agri-culture Select Committee made the comment in a critical report about the governments plans to create a new agency for payments.
Farm minister, Nick Brown, wants to transfer 95% of subsidy claims to the internet by 2004 in a £130m plan designed to save taxpayers £30m a year. But the MPs conclude that the success of the entire project is open to question, largely because of a lack of clarity in the ministrys vision for the project.
"We have serious concerns about the clarity of MAFFs vision and the ability of its management to implement the proposals," the MPs say. "We note that no vision statement is included in the business case and that the statements given to us in evidence on how services were to be delivered lacked clarity and precision."
The report continues: "Our observations during our inquiry have left us with severe doubts as to the ability of MAFF to deliver this project." The MPs say that "inconsistent, inefficient and inadequate work processes" have been found in MAFFs previous administration of CAP payments.
Their report says: "The failure of management at MAFF headquarters to address or even be aware of these issues does not inspire confidence." Ministers should call in "high quality" experts to ensure that MAFF properly implements plans for the CAP Payments Agency.
The government confirmed last week that the agency will be formed from parts of the Intervention Board and MAFFs nine regional offices. Up to six other regional MAFF offices would be closed down or reduced to a token presence and 1350 ministry employees would lose their jobs. *