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THOUSANDS of farmers - including many in the North-East and Yorkshire - have still not received their 2007 single farm payment.

According to the Rural Payments Agency about 9,000 farmers in England are owed a total of £190m.

Farming organisations say those waiting are suffering severe hardship and have demanded swift action.

The RPA figures released on Tuesday showed 97,809 farmers - almost 92pc of the 106,700 claimants - have received £1.26bn, almost 86pc of the estimated £1.45bn total.

Nationally, farming leaders met Lord Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Food and Farming, and told him payments must be speeded up.

In the North-East, Annabelle Morshead, regional chairman of the Country Land and Business Association, is still waiting for her payment.

She said: "I find it completely unacceptable that we are going through this again.

"We are expected to complete our forms for next year's single payment scheme, yet many farmers don't know how much, or when, they will be receiving payment for the last year.

"The CLA has been involved in this throughout and I can say that we have delivered our end with prompt and accurate paperwork - and lots of it.

"Now, to add to their catalogue of excuses, the RPA have told us that changes to the moorland line are holding up 2007 payments.

"This is causing huge problems, coming on the back of an appalling spring, rising prices and the aftermath of draconian foot-and-mouth restrictions.

"The perception that all's well in the farming world could not be more wrong."

A spokeswoman for the North- East National Farmers' Union said payments had slowed dramatically over the last month.

"Thousands of farmers are still unpaid. Not only have they had to endure the RPA's oft-repeated line that we have until June 30th to pay you', but to add insult to injury some are now being told that they will get no payment until November."

She said the RPA's failure to finalise corrections to the 2005/06 claims had blocked the rapid processing of 2007payments.

"For the NFU this is totally unacceptable," she said.

George Allison farms, near Chop Gate, in Bilsdale, and has not been paid.

He has contacted the RPA on several occasions only to be told they have from December to June to make payments.

"We have not had a penny, yet farmers in Wales, Scotland and Ireland received theirs in December," he said.

Mr Allison only received his 2005-06 payment in December last year, has not received any of his 2006-07 payment, but has to submit his 2007-08 claim by Wednesday.

In a statement the RPA said each claim has to be checked and validated.

Simple claims pass quickly through the system.

It said: "The more complex cases, often the higher value ones and claims involving such issues as energy crops and the transfer of entitlements, can require significant activity - including resolution of issues with claimants - so these take longer to process.

"During validation checks, entitlements relating to a claim may need to be corrected in light of any changes or new information.

"These changes, which could have resulted in under and over payments in previous scheme years, are being addressed and, wherever possible, corrected this year to seek to avoid to carry over into future scheme years.

"We appreciate the difficulties of those who have yet to be paid but RPA is working to process and pay these claimants as soon as possible."

1:59pm Friday 9th May 2008

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