Rogerson condemns Rural Payment Agency over ‘Sex Scandal’
The Rural Payments Agency has been embroiled in a scandal involving workers taking drugs, having sex in the toilets, leaping naked from filing cabinets and holding mock fights. This comes at a time when the Agency has already been lambasted over its grossly overdue Single Farm Payments. The delays to the Single Farm Payments, some as long as five months or even more, have left many farmers across North Cornwall, and the country as a whole, financially crippled.
Dan Rogerson, Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall said:
"This is absolutely disgraceful. As a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee I have called upon the government to expedite these payments, and now to hear that this kind of behaviour has been going on at the agency responsible is unbelievable. Whilst many farmers have now received their payments, there are still 3,000 who are still waiting. Many must be thinking, as I am, that these dubious activities must have contributed to the delay."
"As many farmers across North Cornwall have been facing financial ruin, a number of civil servants at the RPA have been engaging themselves in a variety of childish and demeaning activities – all at the expense of the tax payer and the hard working farmer. Action needs to be taken now, and those involved held to account."
Notes to Editors:
1. Complaints have been made over the behaviour of staff at the Rural Payments Agency, which allegedly involves: taking drugs, swearing, having sex in the toilets, leaping naked from filing cabinets, mock fights, holding break dancing contests, and vomiting in cups, then leaving them hidden to fester. Some of the activities are believed to have been captured on CCTV.
2. Single Farm Payments have been delayed for many farmers for as long as five months or more, and whilst some payments are now being made, many are still waiting.
3. Dan Rogerson MP is a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee which publish a report criticising the Government on its handling of SFPs earlier this year.
