COMPENSATION is to be paid to farmers for delayed payments for 1995 under the Arable Area Payments Scheme.

It follows an investigation last year by Parliamentary Ombudsman Michael Buckley into delays in the MAFF payments.

Farmers, through no fault of their own, had received their AAPS payments after the December 31, 1995, deadline.

MAFF identified all the farmers believed to be eligible for compensation and, by now, all should have received both their compensation payment and a letter explaining how it was calculated.

Anyone who has not received a payment they believe they are entitled to should write to their local Regional Service Centre with details of their claim.

Farmers would receive payments only if the amount they are due is greater than £50, in keeping with common practice across Government departments.

Further information is available on the web site www.ombudsman.org.uk.

Updated: 09:23 Thursday, May 31, 2001