A Committee of MPs has vowed to keep pressure on the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) to ensure it makes payments on time this year, after the first year of the Basic Payment Scheme (PBS) was marked by long delays to farm payments on which the industry relies.

On Wednesday, the EFRA Committee wrote to Mark Grimshaw, Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), to remind him of commitments he made to the Committee in November. Mr Grimshaw said that 90% of farmers' Basic Payments Scheme (BPS) claims will be paid by the end of December.

The 2016 payments window opens today (1 December) and farmers in the UK will begin receiving their share of £1.5bn in direct payments.

In committee chair Neil Parish’s letter to the RPA chief executive he states, “Given the reliance of so many farmers and the wider rural economy on the delivery of these payments it is vital that the RPA’s words are matched by its actions. It is particularly important that the agency delivers a stronger performance for claimants who farm common land. The RPA’s performance in this area for 2015 claims was lamentable.”

Parish promised, “We will talk to you about the Agency’s performance nearer the end of the payment window, once the December performance information is available.”

The committee said it will be seeking a follow-up meeting with Mr Grimshaw in the Spring.

Speaking after a meeting with Defra Secretary Andrea Leadsom earlier this week, NFU president Meurig Raymond said, “We are acutely aware that RPA is already warning BPS claimants, such as those on commons or cross-border holdings, to plan for a later payment.  It is not acceptable that these same farms could be paid late in the payment window for the second year running. If [it] is not possible [to make the payments] then Government must urgently plan for an early bridging payment to avoid the repercussions of last year.”

On Wednesday, EFRA Committee chair Neil Parish said, "Mr Grimshaw expressed confidence in evidence to us earlier this month that the Agency will meet its target of paying 90% of BPS claims by 31 December 2016. We will be holding the RPA to this commitment.

“In particular, the RPA's performance in paying 2015 claims for those who farm common land was lamentable and left many farmers in the lurch for many months. We expect much improved performance this year on paying these complex cases. We’re holding the RPA’s feet to the fire to ensure farmers get their payments on time."