§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of bills to his Department were paid in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice in the last year for which figures are available. [5701]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansThe Department's general conditions of contract contain a clause informing suppliers that we shall make payment within agreed terms, or within 30 days of receipt of an invoice, where no such terms exist. The conditions also give advice on how to complain if the Department fails to make payment on time. Annual surveys of invoice payments are carried out, the latest of which showed that 93.8 per cent. of invoices were paid on time. The survey results, together with details of the Department's payment policies, are published in the annual report.