HC Deb 16 July 1991 vol 195 cc124-5W
Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish for each of the last 10 years the number of complaints he has received on the Property Services Agency from(a) hon Members, (b) members of the public and (c) registered companies.

Mr. Yeo

Such statistics are not available centrally and could not be brought together without disproportionate costs. PSA Services investigates any complaint received and, where appropriate, takes action to improve the quality of services it offers.

Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for an auditor's report to be prepared for him on the payment practices of the accounts department of Property Services Agency Services, Heol Pentre, Felen, Morriston, Swansea.

Mr. Yeo

No. The payment systems of all PSA offices are subject to regular cyclical audits by both the Comptroller and Auditor General and by the Department's own internal audit division. Reports of internal audits are available to the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to reduce delays before the Property Services Agency Swansea office sends the invoices from creditors to the Property Services Agency accounts office at Hastings.

Mr. Yeo

From the autumn of 1991, it is planned for the payment of all PSA Building Management creditors in South Wales to be made by the Manchester office. This represents the implementation of the new decentralised bill payment and accounting system to improve the bill payment service offered.

Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that the Property Services Agency pays interest to any creditor when payment has been delayed beyond 28 days from the receipt of an invoice for work completed.

Mr. Yeo

There is no general entitlement in law to interest on the late payment of contract debts, and it is not the normal practice of the Government to pay interest in respect of such debts unless the circumstances of a particular case give rise to a legal entitlement.

Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in theOfficial Report the number of civil actions for damages initiated against the Property Services Agency for non-payment and delays in meeting its liabilities to clients.

Mr. Yeo

Records are not maintained centrally of any civil actions against PSA Services for the non-payment of bills and delays in meeting its liabilities to clients. I am not, however, aware of there being any current ones.