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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Beckett attacked on farm payments | Beckett attacked on farm payments |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Former Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett should be called to account over the "fiasco" of delayed EU payments to farmers, MPs have said. | Former Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett should be called to account over the "fiasco" of delayed EU payments to farmers, MPs have said. |
| The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee called the handling of the new Single Payments Scheme an "embarrassing failure". | The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee called the handling of the new Single Payments Scheme an "embarrassing failure". |
| In a report, it complained Mrs Beckett and senior officials had not been held "personally accountable" for delays. | |
| But a spokesman for Mrs Beckett said she took decisions "in good faith". | |
| The committee said problems could cost the government up to £500m. | |
| Last month, it was revealed that UK taxpayers could face a £300m European Commission fine for the delays. | Last month, it was revealed that UK taxpayers could face a £300m European Commission fine for the delays. |
| The environment department, Defra, said it was still negotiating the exact amount. | The environment department, Defra, said it was still negotiating the exact amount. |
| 'Consciences' | 'Consciences' |
| A computer problem at the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), set up to deal with EU subsidies, had caused delays in payments to thousands of farmers, it added. | A computer problem at the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), set up to deal with EU subsidies, had caused delays in payments to thousands of farmers, it added. |
| The committee's chairman, Conservative MP Michael Jack, said: "The reason that we are calling for people to consider their positions is because of Defra's failure to carry out one of its principal core functions." | The committee's chairman, Conservative MP Michael Jack, said: "The reason that we are calling for people to consider their positions is because of Defra's failure to carry out one of its principal core functions." |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I am now so under-funded at critical times Terry Killeavy, Gotham Send us your comments He added: "Those involved should examine their consciences about the role they played in this failed venture, which could well cost Defra and farmers up to half a billion pounds." | HAVE YOUR SAY I am now so under-funded at critical times Terry Killeavy, Gotham Send us your comments He added: "Those involved should examine their consciences about the role they played in this failed venture, which could well cost Defra and farmers up to half a billion pounds." |
| Peter Kendall, president of the National Farmers' Union, said: "The RPA may still be limping, but it is showing some signs of improvement. | |
| "It is truly terrible. This saga has cost farmers about £20m of their money and untold stress. | |
| "We don't know yet what it will cost Defra in fines." | |
| The committee questions why some leading Defra and RPA officials most closely involved with the scheme have stayed in post or moved on unscathed. | The committee questions why some leading Defra and RPA officials most closely involved with the scheme have stayed in post or moved on unscathed. |
| Its report mentions Mrs Beckett (now the foreign secretary), former permanent secretary Sir Brian Bender and the director general for sustainable farming, food and fisheries, Andy Lebrecht. | |
| The MPs' report said: "A culture where ministers and senior officials can preside over failure of this magnitude and not be held personally accountable creates a serious risk of further failures in public service delivery." | The MPs' report said: "A culture where ministers and senior officials can preside over failure of this magnitude and not be held personally accountable creates a serious risk of further failures in public service delivery." |
| The committee wants new guidance to make clear to ministers what they should do to take responsibility in the event of serious departmental failure. | The committee wants new guidance to make clear to ministers what they should do to take responsibility in the event of serious departmental failure. |
| It also recommends that the Cabinet secretary reappraises the work of the past and present members of Defra's senior management team to determine whether they should remain in post. | It also recommends that the Cabinet secretary reappraises the work of the past and present members of Defra's senior management team to determine whether they should remain in post. |
| A spokesman for Mrs Beckett said: "The foreign secretary is, of course, currently dealing with the Iranian situation and is working for the safe return of our personnel." | |
| He added: "As secretary of state at Defra, she took decisions in good faith on the Single Farm Payment based on the information and expert advice given to her at the time." |