The Rural Payments Agency has met its first 2010 Single Payment Scheme (SPS) target of making payments to 85% of eligible claimants by the end of December 2010.Latest figures, published today, show that, as at 31 December 2010, the total number of English farmers paid is 90,194 which is 85.5% of the total claimant benchmark population of 105,500.

RPA Interim Chief Executive Richard Judge said:

“Achieving our 85% target is an important milestone, and I am pleased to have delivered against the challenging commitments we made. We also know that there is still much to be done as this winter has not been easy for farmers. We remain firmly focussed on progressing the outstanding claims, accurately and as quickly as possible."