In April the government changed the basis on which it will calculate the new Single Payment, which farmers in England will receive from next year. Secretary of State Margaret Beckett introduced a third region - moorland within the upland Severely Disadvantaged Area (SDA), a move backed by all the main farming bodies. The Moorland Line is the boundary that defines moorland within the English Less Favoured Areas. Because the location of moorland within the SDA will affect the value of entitlements under the new Single Payment, farmers are being offered the opportunity to ensure that moorland within their holding is correctly classified.
From this week, the www.rpa.gov.uk website allows the Moorland Line to be viewed by farmers. Farmers can also use it to find information on the representations process as well as a moorland map - and representations must be received by 24 September 2004.
It's a sensible piece of e-Government which should be of real benefit to farmers with internet connection. There's always the drawback though, that there's a current problem over broadband availability in rural and remote areas. The Scottish Executive this week announced a tender for a contract to make broadband available in its rural and remote areas.
Mrs Beckett acknowledged that it was possible that there may be some minor inaccuracies in the location of the boundary at certain points, and decided to make arrangements to consider representations from farmers about its accuracy on their land.
The Moorland Line was drawn up in 1992. It encompasses all land defined as moorland (that is, predominantly semi-natural vegetation, used primarily for rough grazing) and lies entirely within the LFA.
On 22 April, Secretary of State, Margaret Beckett, announced that, for Single Payment purposes, England would be split into three regions rather than the original two. On 22 July, she announced that representations may be made.
Quelle: Publictechnology.net, 11.08.2004
