How are Inspections Selected?
A percentage (approximately 1.25%) of beneficiaries are selected at random for an on the spot inspection in each year. The remainder (to 5%) are selected by applying risk analysis criteria annually to agreements. The risk analysis criteria for management options are as follows:
- Amount of Aid Involved
- Findings from Previous Year (previous breaches in other RDR schemes are considered)
- Total Managed Area in Agreement
- Changes from Previous Year
- Numbers of Options on Application (a check will be performed on the total number of distinct operations)
- Other risk factors on a regional basis
The risk analysis criteria for capital items will also select an appropriate mix of the type and size of operations.
Manual/Targeted inspection selection
In addition to the above 5% on the spot inspections, inspections can also be selected manually when breaches have been identified from processing the Contract or by officials in the course of other inspections.
Potential breaches of the scheme might be notified to the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) or other competent authorities (for example Forrestry Commission, Scottish Naturel Hertitage). If the notification is in writing from an identifiable source it must be investigated and will be selected for a manual inspection. This is in line with procedures followed for other schemes, in particular Single Application Form (SAF) related schemes.