Cold comfort: The administration of the 2005 Single Payment Scheme by the Rural Payments Agency

The UK Parliamentary Ombudsman, Ann Abraham, called on the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) to apologise and pay compensation for the maladministration of the Single Payment Scheme in a report laid before Parliament on 16 December 2009.

The Office of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman carries out independent investigations into complaints about UK government departments and their agencies, and the National Health Service (NHS) in England.

• Primary Source

United Kingdom: House of Commons: Public Accounts Committee: 1st Report (2009-10)HC 98 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmpubacc/98/98.pdf

BBC News, 16.12.09: Ombudsman criticises Defra over farmers' compensation http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8414585.stm

United Kingdom: Office of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman: Press Release: No.09/14 (16.12.09): Ombudsman reports on Rural Payments Agency's maladministration http://www.ombudsman.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/2009/pr2009-14

United Kingdom: Central Office of Information: News Distribution Service: News, 16.12.09: Ombudsman reports on Rural Payments Agency's maladministration http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=409589&SubjectId=2

United Kingdom: House of Commons: Public Administration Select Committee: Press Notice, 25.1.10: PASC to quiz DEFRA on refusal to pay compensation recommended by Ombudsman http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-archive/public-administration-select-committee/pasc0910pn14/

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