§ Mr. BettsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) of the bills currently awaiting payment in his Department how many are over the advised payment date by(a) up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (e) over six months respectively;
(2) how many of the bills paid by his Department during the last month for which figures are available were paid within (a) up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (e) over 941W six months from receipt of invoice; and how many were over the date for payment by (i) up to one month, (ii) up to two months, (iii) up to three months, (iv) up to six months and (v) over six months.
§ Mr. Heseltine[holding answer 1 December 1994]: The information is not available in the form requested. The survey of my Department's payment performance for the 1994 Trade and Industry expenditure plans report based on a sample of payments made in October 1993 stated that 90 per cent. of bills were paid either in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days of receipt of goods or services or the presentation of a valid invoice. A further 7 per cent. were paid within 60 days of receipt of goods or services or the presentation of a valid invoice.