I am grateful for the invitation to me and the relevant officials to provide evidence on the specific topics of CAP payments and CAP information technology.
As members know, following my statement to Parliament on 12 September, I announced that I would publish the CAP plan for stabilisation. The driving aim of the plan is to improve our customer service. As part of that, I published an extensive payment schedule, outlining when farmers and crofters should expect their money. That is with the view of focusing all business effort on giving customers what they need, which is certainty.
I am therefore pleased to be able to say that we are doing that. For example, I confirm that 80 per cent of claims from the less favoured area support scheme 2016 customers have been processed and customers will receive their payments this week in line with our commitment to start making payments by the end of September. It is clear that progress is being made, but we are not complacent. We will continue to implement improvements in our systems to underpin that progress.
Another key part of the plan was to offer loans to all eligible 2017 basic payment scheme customers. I confirm that we are on track to issue the first batch of letters to customers this week and I repeat what I urged when I spoke in the chamber recently, that all those who receive a letter should respond by the deadline to take up the offer of the loan and receive payment in November. People should get their forms back as quickly as possible if they wish to participate—that is the clear message.
I want to make an announcement relating to the Scottish upland sheep support scheme, which is relevant to CAP payments, of course, because they need to be made within time limits. Having listened to farmers and being conscious of the poor weather conditions that have hampered their ability to gather flocks from the hills and draw their future breeding stock, I have decided to extend the window for applications to the SUSSS until 30 November, subject of course to Parliament’s approval.
I hope that the committee will recognise that we are beginning to deliver on our commitments and we are making the decisions necessary to improve customer service and business efficiency. I am, of course, happy to take questions on the topics of the day.