Graziers of livestock in the New Forest will shortly receive application forms for the Single Payment Scheme Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael announced today. Applicants to the Scheme must make an application for entitlements, otherwise they could lose it for good. If applicants have not received their form by the end of March, they should immediately phone the Customer Service Centre of the Rural Payment Agency on 0845 603 7777.

The method for allocating a notional area of the New Forest common under the Single Payment Scheme has been agreed. Defra ministers have decided that the fairest and simplest way is to allocate one eligible hectare of common land for each livestock unit grazed in the Forest in the 12 month period immediately preceding the date of this announcement (1 adult cow = 1 Livestock Unit; 1 pony = 0.6 Livestock Unit).

Commenting on the notional allocation of common land in the New Forest Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael said:

'I am pleased to be able to end the uncertainty for the commoners of the New Forest and to enable them to plan their future commoning activities. The circumstances of the New Forest required a special solution and the one we have chosen is both simple and fair."