WIREDGOV

Producers invited to register for new online system.

Farmers and crofters across Scotland are being invited to register for a new online system for rural funding called Rural Payments and Services.

The new system, which has replaced Rural Payments Online, launched this week 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:

“The new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which was implemented on January 1, is radically different to the previous policy so we needed a new online system.

“Rural Payments and Services has been specifically designed to make submitting an application or claim much clearer, simpler and smarter, and I am pleased to say the system is now live and farmers and crofters are invited to register.

“My officials are writing to farmers and crofters to let them know that they are now able to register to use the system, with more information about how to go about doing that.

“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.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to use this new system, but recognise that it may not be suitable for everyone. That is why help and advice is available from local area offices.”

Producers can register by visiting https://www.ruralpayments.org

Notes To Editors

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 is being phased in as follows:

• End 2014 – the first part of our new online services which includes improved guidance, online land maps and improved customer service and support was launched.
• January 2015 – open for customer registration, allowing them 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