Farron wants to hear from farmers who have not yet received Single Farm Payment

Local MP Tim Farron is calling on farmers from across the South Lakes to get in touch if they have not received their single farm payment from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), so that he can step in and help.

Many farmers in Cumbria area began receiving their Single Payments in December, as the European Commission payment window opened.

In a written ministerial statement, DEFRA announced: "On 3rd December 2012 the Rural Payments Agency paid more than £1.38 billion to more than 95,000 farmers, meeting its target for the end of December 2012 on the first banking day of the payment window. This equates to 84.6 percent of the estimated fund value and 91.4 percent of customers, and represents the best ever performance on the part of the Agency. This is much better news for English farmers and for the wider rural economy."

Tim wants to hear from local farmers who have or have not received their payments so that he can monitor the success of this year's payment round.

Tim has previously raised concerns about the RPA after a series of cases of maladministration that left some farmers waiting months or even years for their single farm payment.

Commenting, Tim said: "Many farmers rely on their single farm payment to keep them farming, producing food and protecting our countryside. Our farmers are the stewards of our landscape and making them wait months and years for the payment is wrong. I want to help any farmer in South Lakeland who feels that they have had to wait too long to receive their payment. I am committed to do all I can to help them."