Review of the Independent Agricultural Appeals Panel
Jim Paice, the Minister for Agriculture and Food made a written statement on 22 May 2012, announcing that the Independent Agricultural Appeals Panel (IAAP) will be retained in its current form (an Advisory NDPB) and business processes supporting the appeals function are to be strengthened by Defra and the RPA, providing a more accessible and informative appeals service, and publishing the IAAP Review report.
The report makes a number of recommendations that will strengthen and improve how the appeals function is operated and increase its transparency and accessibility for customers, which the Government has accepted. Defra and the RPA will work together to implement the recommendations as part of the wider programme of work announced in the RPA’s Five Year Improvement Plan
Jim Paice commissioned the IAAP Review in December as part of a rolling programme of reviews that Defra is undertaking in line with Government’s commitment to reducing the number and cost of public bodies and ensuring accountability for public functions by examining all Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) at least once every three years.
The Appeals Panels make recommendations to Ministers on appeals against the RPA’s decisions on Common Agricultural Policy payment claims. The review considered how the Appeals Panels operate, the continuing need for such a body, and how the process can be made more efficient.
Further information
- Written Statement (PDF 60 KB) (on the Parliament website)
- RPA Five Year Plan