Hunter Review of RPA 'Deeply Disappointing', says CLA

Speaking in response to the Hunter Review (1), a report reviewing the future of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) which was published yesterday (19 March) by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), David Fursdon, President of the CLA said:

'This review is deeply disappointing. It has taken twelve months to say things that we knew already such as "the agency's priority is getting the Single Payment Scheme sorted" - we didn't need a report to tell us this.'

He added. 'Also, its key recommendation is to set a low aspiration for the RPA's future performance. It says the RPA's target in 2008 must be to get "the end to end process from application to payment compressed as nearly as possible within a 12 month period". Are we supposed to applaud such a lack of ambition?
We were hardly expecting more from an internal review set up in the days of DEFRA's obfuscation and obstruction but it is nevertheless depressing that something so bland has taken so long and gives so little comfort to those who have suffered along the way.'

Notes:

1. In March 2006 the then Secretary of State Margaret Beckett announced to Parliament that the Rural Payments Agency would be subject to review. The Hunter Review was set up, tasked with looking at the agency's current and possible future functions, and the effectiveness of its relationship with Defra and its other key stakeholders, and to make recommendations for the future. The full report can be viewed via: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/delivery/executive/rpaob/

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