APPENDIX 13
Memorandum submitted by Northern Regional
Service Centre (E17)
NORTHERN REGION—CARLISLE
1. DESCRIPTION
OF THE
AREA AND
TYPE OF
FARMING
The Northern Region of MAFF covers just over
1 million hectares of agricultural land in Lancashire, Cumbria,
Northumberland and Tyne & Wear (approximately 11 per cent
agricultural land in England).
Over 80 per cent of the agricultural land in
the Region is grassland (cf England 40 per cent) of which a large
proportion is rough grazing. The region also contains a large
area of farm woodland, much of which is under managed. There are
almost 15,000 agricultural holdings in the region with an average
size of 73 hectares. The total workforce of 37,000 comprises a
higher proportion of family labour (69 per cent) than nationally
(60 per cent) and is even higher in the hills (75+ per cent).
The region contains large areas designated as
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Sites of Scientific
Interest (SSSI) as well as the Lake District and the Northumberland
National Park. In addition the region contains the Lake District
ESA and part of the Pennine Dales ESA. Designations for Rural
Development Areas, European Union Objective 2 and Objective 5b—which
covers much of the Region—and MAFF's Less Favoured Area
recognise the economic disadvantages of much of the area.
Lancashire
The mild damp climate results in productive
grassland with half the full time farms engaged in dairying. Some
20 per cent of the farms are in cattle and sheep production and
are mainly found in the Pennine and Bowland hills. A further 20
per cent on the higher quality soils of South West Lancashire
and Morecambe Bay, are engaged in horticultural production.
Cumbria
Grassland and livestock, particularly sheep,
predominate due to the higher rainfall across large areas of medium
quality and hill land. In addition to the importance of its milk
output, the county is renowned for breeding and store stock (cattle
and sheep) for finishing in lowland areas. Carlisle livestock
market is one of the largest and most progressive in the country.
Northumberland and Tyne & Wear
Northumberland has many large tenant farm estates;
the percentage of tenanted land is 55 per cent (cf England 35
per cent). The county also has the largest average size of holding
in the country at 160 hectares and produces 25 per cent of UK
beef.
Upland beef and sheep units predominate in the
west of the county. Mid-Northumberland contains suckler cow and
sheep holdings of medium size. There is little dairying. The eastern
seaboard, Tyne and Tweed valleys are drier and have mainly highly
productive, large-scale arable holdings with few livestock.
2. UPTAKE AND
ADMINISTRATION OF
SCHEMES
ARABLE AREA PAYMENTS SCHEME (AAPS) 1999
| Claims | Total grant £k
| Average grant £k | % paid by EU deadline
|
| 2,265 | 26,744 | 11.8
| 98.06 |
| | |
|
BEEF SPECIAL PREMIUM SCHEME (BSPS) 1998
| Applicants | Total paid £k
| % paid by EU deadline |
| 5,403 | 20,012 | 99.44
|
| | |
SUCKLER COW PREMIUM SCHEME (SCPS) 1998
| Claims | Total paid £k
| % paid by EU deadline |
| 3,142 | 19,034 | 99.88
|
| | |
SHEEP ANNUAL PREMIUM SCHEME (SAPS) 1998
| Claims | Total paid £k
| Average payment £k | % claims paid by deadline
|
| 6,138 | 47,254 | 7.6
| 99.9 |
| | |
|
HILL LIVESTOCK COMPENSATORY ALLOWANCES (HLCA) 2000
| Eligible claims | Total allowances paid £k
| Average payment £k | % eligible claims paid by deadline
|
| 4,185 | 19,019 | 4.5
| 99.31 |
| | |
|
ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS 1998-99
| Agreements | Total payments due £k
| Average grant £k | % paid by EU deadline
|
| 1,192 | 5,371 | 4.5
| 99.6 |
| | |
|
COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP SCHEME 1991-99
| Agreements | Budget £k
|
| 1,239 | 5,018 |
| |
FARM WOODLAND/FARM WOODLAND PREMIUM SCHEMES 1.4.92-31.3.00
| Approvals | Expenditure £k
|
| 339 | 522 |
| |
ORGANIC FARMING SCHEME (OFS) 1999
| Applicants | First year commitment of expenditure £k
| Average value per case (first year) £k
|
| 69 | 962 | 13.9
|
| |
|
ORGANIC AID SCHEME (OAS) 1999
| Applicants | Payments £k
| Average value £k |
| 17 | 150 | 8.8
|
| | |
PROTECTION OF BADGERS ACT 1992 1.4.98-31.3.99
| Applications | Licences issued
| % meeting Citizen's Charter target |
| 20 | 15 | 95
|
| | |
WILDLIFE AND COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1.4.98-31.3.99
| Applications | Licences issued
| % meeting Citizen's Charter target |
| 42 | 35 | 98
|
| | |
| Number of approved projects
| Total grant allocated £k | Total expenditure £k
| Average allocation per project £k
| Average commitment per project £k
|
| Objective 5b 1999 with NE Region | 76
| 21,847 | 8,488 | 276
| 107 |
| Leader II 1999 with NE Region | 93
| 835 | 238 | 12.9
| 2.5 |
| PESCA 1999 | 27 | 192
| 95 | 7.1 | 3.5
|
| | |
| | |
3. ENQUIRIES
The RSC receives about 225,000 telephone calls a year. During
the financial year ended 31 March 2000, 11,553 personal callers
visited the office. 3,250 Citizen's Charter letters were received,
of which 3,155 were answered within 10 working days (97.08%).
4. NUMBER OF
STAFF
Staff in post at 1 April 2000—232.
5. FACILITIES AVAILABLE
Northern RSC occupies a six storey site in Carlisle City
Centre. The location provides good access to local public transport,
and benefits from the West Coast mainline station being only five
minutes walk away and the M6 motorway only five minutes drive.
Extensive use is made of Video Conference facilities.
6. USE OF
IT
Northern RSC works closely with other RSCs in the development
of IT for the Department. In particular the concept, systems analysis,
design and testing of the Automated Inspection Report form has
been undertaken at Carlisle with North Mercia RSC providing the
programming skills.
7. PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Performance measures are indicated in the tables under Paragraph
2—Schemes and in Paragraph 3—Enquiries.
8. RELATIONSHIPS WITH
OTHER AGENCIES
Northern RSC was closely involved in the appointment of the
RDA board for both the North West and the North East Regional
Development Agencies and now works closely with the North East
RDA/Government Office, notably on drafting the Regional Economic
Strategy for the North East.
Northern RSC continues to work closely with agencies in the
North West and North East. These include: English Nature, Environment
Agency, Forestry Authority, English Heritage, Countryside Agency,
Lake District National Park, Northumberland National Park, Local
Authorities, Meat and Livestock Commission and FWAG. We have worked
closely with Government Office North East on the Objective 2 Single
Programming Document, culminating in the placement of an FRCA
and one MAFF Officer within the Government Office on a regular
basis.
Northern RSC's responsibility for Emergencies and the presence
in the region of three major nuclear installations means the region
has a very close working relationship with the Emergency Services
and other Government Departments (including the Food Standards
Agency).
Northern RSC's proximity to the British Cattle Movement Service
at Workington, coupled with National Scheme Management Centre
responsibility for Cattle Identification Inspections and all Bovine
Schemes, has generated a close working relationship with BCMS.
9. LOCAL INITIATIVES
OR CIRCUMSTANCES
Northern RSC is the largest clerical employer and Government
Department in the city of Carlisle. The RSC liaises closely with
the Local Authorities, particularly on transport issues.
The RSC has close links with the wider rural population and
has regular interchanges with NFU, CLA, TFA, YFCs, Agricultural
Colleges, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, National Trust, Ramblers Associations,
Rural Community Councils, Business Links, Commoners Associations,
Food Manufacturers, Food Processors, Food Retailers, Banks and
rural GPs. Northern RSC was responsible, with Government Office
North West, for setting up the North West Rural Forum before handing
over its Co-Chairmanship to North Mercia RSC earlier this year.
It plays a key role in the equivalent body in the North East.
Northern RSC operates an open door policy and has hosted
"Open Day"/Orientation visits for new NFU Group Secretaries
working in the region; and Farmers Groups to help mutual understanding.
Northern RSC also holds IACS form collection days around the region
to facilitate IACS applications.
11 May 2000
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