Today I met a group of farmers in Thirsk and promised to take up their concerns with the Minister. The farmers made it clear that they have ongoing worries about the efficiency of the Rural Payment Agency (RPA). Some said that they were still waiting for payments three years after making a claim and they had little confidence that it would cope when the new system of payments (public money for public goods) is introduced post Brexit. They suggested that caseworkers should be assigned to farmers to deal with individual cases, something I will raise at Westminster. Whilst many of them liked the idea of paying public money for public goods, they also said it must be based on what it cost the farmer to deliver. Another concern they raised with me was the need for Capital Allowances on buildings and a commitment that english farmers are on a competitive footing with other parts of the country; an out-goers scheme to allow elderly farmers to retire with dignity; and a fair trade deal. One of the main themes in the agricultural Command Paper is the need to improve productivity. The farmers said productivity could be improved by tax relief on buildings; technology; the return of free and impartial advice from ADAS; the eradication of certain diseases such as BVD; greater and more effective support from AHDB – all points I will raise with the minister.