HC Deb 01 November 1995 vol 265 c263W
Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how often his Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years. [40523]

Mr. Hanley

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office—diplomatic wing and Overseas Development Administration—is committed to the CBI prompt payment code. This requires all invoices to be paid within the agreed credit period, or within 30 days of receipt where no credit period has been agreed. The following table shows the percentage of all invoices not paid on time by the diplomatic wing, the Overseas Development Administration, and the executive agencies Wilton Park and the Natural Resources Institute. Separate figures for small businesses' invoices are not available.

Per cent.
DW ODA WP NRI
1991–92 14 n/a n/a n/a
1992–93 9 n/a 0 n/a
1993–94 5 13 12 n/a
1994–95 8 13 5 4
1995–96 18 27 10 28
1 April-September.
2 April-late October.