28 June 2011

The Rural Payments Agency has warned that the industrial action planned by the Public and Commercial Services Union for Thursday (June 30) will have a direct impact on its services. 

The agency has issued the following statement, “While we have plans to try and limit the impact on farmers, it is likely that there will be some disruption to normal services.

“This action is likely to be most keenly felt by farmers calling our Customer Service Centre. We won’t know the extent of the industrial action until Thursday. However, indications are that the centre will continue to offer a limited service.

“While we will try to answer as many queries as we can there are alternatives until things return to normal early next week.

“Cattle farmers who use the British Cattle Movement Service will still be able to use the Cattle Tracing System Online service and the self-service telephone line (numbers below) to apply for cattle passports and report movements.

“On SPS, we will make sure that we focus the resources we have on dealing with outstanding payments. The RPA website will be available for anyone who requires general information.”

The Cattle Tracing Service line is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week on 0845 011 1212 (English) and 0845 011 1213 (Welsh).