Scottish Government
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Rural Payments and Services
Final preparations for launch of new online system.
Farmers and crofters across Scotland are being invited to view a demonstration video about a new online system for rural funding called Rural Payments and Services.
The new system, which replaces Rural Payments Online, is due to launch soon and will deliver nearly £4 billion of support to Scotland’s farming, food and rural sectors over the next five years alone.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead said:
“We need a new online system for the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to be implemented next year, as it is radically different to the existing policy.
“Rural Payments and Services has been specifically designed to make submitting an application or claim much clearer, simpler and smarter and I am pleased it remains on track to launch soon.
“It is really important that farmers and crofters familiarise themselves with the new system, and the demonstration video is a great way to do this. My officials are writing to farmers and crofters to let them know that the demo video is available to view online and I urge everyone to watch it over the coming weeks.
“Farmers and crofters will also need to register to use Rural Payments and Services once it goes live and my officials will write again shortly with more information about what to do and when.
“By having application and claim forms, guidance and up-to-date map and boundary information all in one place, the streamlined and secure Rural Payments and Services should save our hard-working farmers and crofters time, hassle and paperwork.
“We will be encouraging as many people as possible to use the new system once it is up and running, but recognise that this may not be suitable for everyone. That is why help and advice is available from local Area Offices.”
Notes To Editors
We are launching an online introduction to Rural Payments and Services and three short films to guide customers and agents through what’s coming. Go to www.itscoming.ruralpayments.org
Rural Payments and Services will make submitting an application or making a claim clearer, simpler and smarter:
- There will be no unexplained jargon and better information and guidance
- The system will have up-to-date maps, so customers / agents will be able to see their land parcel information (boundaries and features), and, in future, easily maintain and propose changes to the maps they own
- We will also offer increased customer support in all of our local Area Offices and provide online access to help our customers use the new services
- Customers / agents will be able to change and manage information themself – from address and bank account information to map changes and entitlements
- Customers / agents will receive updates and notifications from us and they will see all their correspondence – from us to them and from them to us.
Rural Payments and Services will be phased in as follows:
- End 2014 – we are working towards launching the first part of our new online services which includes improved guidance, online land maps and improved customer service and support. We plan to open for customer registration in January 2015 and customers will be able to create an account and check their personal, business and land information.
- During 2015 – we will deliver the CAP reform requirements including a new single online application for some of the schemes early in the year, and improved management information and reporting
- By end 2017 – we will build up our online services to offer a range of services aimed at helping our customers manage their businesses / projects more easily.
