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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the (a) effectiveness and (b) performance of the Rural Payments Agency.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regularly meets with Cabinet colleagues to address farming and food security, underlining the Government’s commitment to supporting British agriculture; ensuring the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) operates effectively and meets performance targets is a key departmental priority.

The Secretary of State recently met with Oliver Munn, the new Chief Executive Officer of the RPA. The constructive discussion provided an opportunity to set out clear expectations for the Agency’s delivery and ongoing transformation. Regular meetings with Mr Munn have been scheduled to review performance and ensure RPA delivery remains on track.