BPS Applications 2015

Now most of the CAP reform rules are known in England, attention is moving towards the mechanics of actually making a claim under the new Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).  Whilst most people will know (and fear?) that a new computer system is being put in place, the scale of the changes have perhaps not been appreciated.  An extra element of uncertainty is added by how EFAs for Greening are to be recorded, and especially hedges.

The RPA has demonstrated its new claims system to the industry and has even trialled elements of it with individuals.  It will have a different ‘architecture’ to the current process and will be based on ‘profiles’;

• Personal Profile – this is the fundamental building block, and the RPA will be contacting all those who are registered on its system.  A small number will be trialled in August and September, before a more general roll-out.  All those who want to use the new system will have to create a new Identity Assurance (IDA) account.  This replaces the Government Gateway, and all the old SPS Online log-ins will no longer be valid.  IDA accounts will be used across Government in future.  Third party providers such as the Post Office or Experian will have the job of verifying IDAs.
• Business Profile – this links the individual with a claiming entity.  In the same way an individual requires an IDA, a business may well need something like a VAT number to verify its status.  Obviously a business can have more than one individual linked to it for BPS purposes – e.g. all the Directors in a Limited Company.  Conversely, someone can be legitimately involved in more than one BPS business.  However, the new element of having individuals recorded separately may well highlight far more cases of this and cause far more Separate Business investigations as a result. 
• Land Profile – parcels of land are then linked to a business.   It will eventually be possible to transfer and amend field details online.  Entitlement transfers will also be conducted online, rendering the RLE1 form obsolete.  In the first release it appears that claimants will be able to check the right land is allocated to the business.  They will also be able to check the right land cover type is entered for each parcel (Permanent Grassland, Permanent Crops or Arable).  Precise cropping details will only be added later. 
• Agents – the role of Agents has been recognised in the design of the new system.  Individual Agents or firms can register on the system (individuals will have to use the IDA process outlined above).  A claimant can then empower either a specific Agent or a firm.   The registration of Agents is scheduled to start in late September.  Agents are seen as having a key part to play in getting claimants onto the new system and supporting digital claims. 

The different elements will be made available through the autumn and winter.  There will be strong encouragement for claimants to register and check information ahead of making an actual claim.  The ‘functionality’ to allow the actual 2015 BPS claim will be switched-on early in the New Year.   

The process of mapping EFA features, and especially hedges, is not entirely clear.  The RPA has a plan to get all landscape features accurately mapped on its new Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) which underpins the new BPS claims process.  However, this requires the precise area of features to be mapped – for example the width of hedges.  Where farmers supply this data, it needs to be verified by the RPA (via aerial photographs).  The RPA is quoted as wanting to complete this process in 2015.  It seems unlikely it will be completed in time for 2015 applications though.  It is stated that farmers who want to use hedges to count towards EFA next year ‘will need to ‘self-certify’ their claims’.  What this means in practice is, as yet, unclear.