DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (217/08) issued by
The Government News Network on 9 July 2008
Tony Cooper has
been appointed Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA)
after an open competition chaired by the Civil Service Commission.
Mr. Cooper has latterly held the position as Interim Chief Executive.
As Chief Executive he will be personally responsible to DEFRA
Ministers for the delivery of the RPA's annual performance
targets and to Parliament for ensuring propriety in the management
of public funds.
He will continue the work he has instigated to ensure Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments in the UK, including the Single
Payment Scheme (SPS) in England, animal tracing activities and
regulatory inspections are delivered effectively and efficiently,
taking into account the needs of customers.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said:
"I am very
appreciative of the significant contribution Tony Cooper has made
to the work of the Rural Payments Agency over the last two years
and I'd like to offer my best wishes to him on his
appointment as he continues to improve RPA performance."
Notes for Editors
1. Tony Cooper joined the RPA as Interim Chief Executive in May
2006. He previously held a number of Senior Civil Service
positions in the Department for Work and Pensions and the National
Health Service with responsibility for large scale programmes
involving business and IT change.
2. In the 2006 and 2007 scheme years, the RPA met EU payment
targets of 96.154%, by value, for payments under the Single
Payment Scheme as well as meeting all eight targets set by the
Secretary of State including those for the Single Payment Scheme
for the 2007-08 reporting year.
3. Key activities for the RPA over the next three years will
include implementing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Health
Check policy changes once they are agreed and upgrading the Rural
Land Register. Priorities for the Agency remain customer service,
improved performance and efficiency.
4. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is an executive agency of the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It is
the single paying agency responsible for CAP schemes in England
and other schemes throughout the UK.
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on
our website
http://www.defra.gov.uk
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