CLA welcome Basic Payment Scheme advance by DEFRA
Environment Secretary George Eustice announces welcome new measures to advance the first instalment of the Basic Payment Scheme to July 2022
Today, Defra announced that farmers in England will receive an advance of 50% of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payment for 2022. The move is in response to farms across England facing surging costs with fertiliser and energy prices to take pressure off short-term cashflow.
Secretary of State, George Eustice MP, announced that the first payment will be made at the end of July, with the intention of making this change a permanent feature, with bi-annual instalments until BPS is phased out in 2027. The second payment will be in December.
As this is an issue that the CLA has been calling for action on for the benefit of our members, it is encouraging to see that Defra has recognised the current cashflow and inflationary constrictions the agricultural sector is facing
Responding to the news, Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President, Mark Tufnell, said: “The CLA welcomes the move by the government to advance the Basic Payment Scheme instalment to July. As this is an issue that the CLA has been calling for action on for the benefit of our members, it is encouraging to see that Defra has recognised the current cashflow and inflationary constrictions the agricultural sector is facing, and consequently has implemented measures to help relieve these pressures at such a difficult time.”