Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how Ministers in her Department receive briefings from the Rural Payments Agency on delays in farm payments to commons farmers.

Ministers received verbal and written briefings from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) and have had regular meetings to discuss all aspects of the implementation of the Basic Payment Scheme 2015 and 2016, including commons issues.

The RPA is working closely with stakeholders who have an interest in commons regarding payments to those with common land.