The number of UK farmers and agri-businesses receiving in excess of one million pounds in CAP subsidies doubled from 16 to 29 between 2009 – 2010. CAP payment figures were published simultaneously in all EU countries, with the exception of the UK, on 30 April. In defiance of an EU directive Defra refused release UK figures until after the general election on 12 May. According to a Defra spokesperson the decision to delay publication "reflects the need to maintain, and be seen to maintain, the impartiality of the UK civil service, given the potential risk that CAP payment information relating to any individuals involved in the election might be used as part of election campaigning."
Others were quick to highlight the embarrasment the figures could have caused for a select number of potential candidates. According to The Guardian "Up to 70 of the 650 Tory candidates standing at the election could be receiving some sort of subsidy. Up to half a dozen UKIP candidates – who campaign against the EU – could be receiving EU cash, as well as a smattering of Liberal Democrat candidates". Although no Labour candidates were in receipt of subsidy payments at the time, the government itself may have decided to delay publication to avoid questions over its flailing Rural Payments Agency.
Direct payments under the CAP currently account for €53bn a year, 40 per cent of the EU's entire annual budget. A staggering €2.6bn was paid to the top 100 recipients across Europe while here in the UK the top 10 per cent of claimants accounted for 44 per cent of an a total £3.17bn. Among the largest UK recipients were Tate & Lyle, the National Trust, the RSPB and various members of the Royal Family. CAP subsidies currently cost each UK taxpayer £68 per year. The recent figures demonstrate the startling inefficiency of the Rural Payments Agency who are estimated by the National Audit Office to spend an average of £1,743 processing each claim. In 2009 55,814 farmers were awarded payments for less than this amount, with 67 claims worth less than £1 and 12 claims worth less than 10 pence.
Farmsubsidy.org was launched in 2005 following a collaborated campaign between European journalists to disclose the details of the EU's largest single expenditure. The website's co-founder Jack Thurston explains that, although mosst people assume subsidies exist to support the smallest producers, the reality couldn't be further from the truth. "Each year we're seeing a further concentration of benefits in the hands of fewer, larger landowners, who seem to use their subsidy cheques to buy up more land and more subsidy entitlements, The bigger you are, the better your land, the more public aid you get. At a time when public budgets are under real pressure, we need to ask whether CAP is providing good value for taxpayers money or in need of radical reorientation".