14 May 2004
Ministers were motivated by political expediency when pushing through reforms to the way that £2bn of European Union agricultural subsidies are paid, according to MPs.
The Commons' committee that scrutinises the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs accused it of not carrying out a proper assessment before implementing the changes. The MPs say the department may now face administrative problems.
'We are forced to conclude that the department's decision about the basis of the single payment scheme was based on pragmatism and political expediency,' the MPs' report said.
PFmay2004
