Early review of the Common Agricultural Policy Delivery Programme inquiry
Closed
What the inquiry looked at
“The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Delivery Programme is a combined effort between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Rural Payments Agency, Government Digital Service and other bodies to develop new systems and processes to support the implementation of the CAP in England. It was established in 2012 to address failings in how it was previously delivered and to adapt to the increased complexity of the new CAP. The original vision and design of the Programme was narrow, focussing largely on procuring IT systems, and was set back by numerous changes in leadership. In March 2015, in response to serious failings of the system, the online application system was withdrawn and replaced by "paper-assisted digital" applications for the 2015 scheme. Despite these challenges, the Department is making good progress to meeting its target of paying Basic Payment Scheme claims for the majority of farmers in December. This inquiry examines the significant challenges that remain to make sure this year’s payments are accurate, to prepare for future years, to maximise Programme benefits and minimise disallowance penalties.”
The committee's words, from the inquiry page on parliament.uk ↗.
What it found
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has a history of failure when developing systems to support subsidy payments for farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy. The Common Agricultural Policy Delivery Programme was intended to address past failures, but was unsuccessful in many respects. Payments to farmers have been delayed at a time when their cash flow is already stretched. The three key bodies involved in the Common Agricultural Policy Delivery Programme– the Department, the Rural Payments Agency and the Government Digital Service– were unable to work together effectively. Dysfunctional and inappropriate behaviours amongst senior leaders were inexcusable and deeply damaging to the Programme. An inability to agree a clear vision for the Programme meant that the frequent changes in leadership were accompanied by changes of direction, shifts in focus and further disruption. The Government Digital Service was created to help improve IT projects, but instead hindered delivery of this Programme. In addition to delaying payments to farmers, Programme costs have risen by 40% and penalties from the European Commission are likely to increase significantly.
What the government said
No government response is linked to this report.
How the inquiry ran
Each dot is a dated item listed on this page, from the inquiry's opening on 24 November 2015 to its close on 12 May 2016.
- Oral evidence 9 Dec 2015
- Report 2 Mar 2016
What it recommended
The committee's recommendations are not listed here yet. Read them in 26th Report - The Common Agricultural Policy Delivery Programme ↗ on parliament.uk.
Evidence
Oral evidence sessions 1
- 9 Dec 2015No witnesses recordedparliament.uk ↗