 | |
| Executive agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Reading, England |
| Minister responsible | |
| Executive agency executive |
|
| Website | gov |
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is an executive agency of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Prior to Brexit, the RPA delivered the European Union (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments to farmers and traders in England, paying out over £2 billion in subsidies each year.[1] The Agency managing more than 40 schemes, the largest of which the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) paying more than £1.5 billion to around 105,000 claimants a year.[2]
Along with paying subsidies the agency has a number of other roles including managing the British Cattle Movement Service[3] and the Rural Land Register[4] which holds around 2.4 million registered land parcels digitally, and sends land maps to landowners in England.
RPA works closely with Natural England and the Forestry Commission which are responsible for authorising payments under the Rural Development Programme for England for schemes including Environmental Stewardship and the English Woodland Grant Scheme.
Part of the role of the agency is to issue holding numbers and vendor numbers to landowners in England who wish to take advantage of the various schemes Defra offers.
The RPA publishes an annual business plan[5] which sets out its targets and commitments to its customers, Defra and the taxpayer.
- ^ "About us". gov.uk. UK Government. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ^ "BPS 2016 – Detailed guidance". gov.uk. UK Government. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ^ "British Cattle Movement Service". gov.uk. UK Government. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ^ "Register land with the Rural Land Register". gov.uk. UK Government. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ^ "Rural Payments Agency Business Plan 2014 to 2015". gov.uk. UK Government. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
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