Rural Payments Agency

My Lords, I apologise to the Minister, because I was not here for the Statement, but I have read it. I am afraid that I let my attention wander from the annunciator in my office. Mentioning the word ““Defra”” or anyone employed by Defra to any of my agricultural friends—I declare an interest as a farmer—raises a combination of amusement, despair and horror. Were not large sums of money involved, the gates in Essex would be shut, if Defra representatives came to farms nowadays. The situation is that bad, and it is a matter of great regret that it should be so. I plead with the Minister to consider seriously the issue of advance payments. Payments on account, which is what any other commercial organisation would have in these circumstances, would go a long way to relieve the problem. While I understand the difficulties in doing so, the Minister’s attitude that it cannot be done will only increase farmers’ derision about Defra at present. It is a matter of immense sorrow. However, does the Minister accept that responsibility for this difficulty really lies not with the agency—the idea for which might have originated under a Conservative government—but with the people who took the decision to put the system in place and required the agency to implement it?