§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the amount owed to those businesses whose invoices were not paid within 30 days or in accordance with contractual agreements in each of the last five years; [1120]
(2) how many orders and firms are represented by the 5.3 per cent. of invoices not paid by his Department within 30 days or in accordance with contractual agreements in 1994–95; and how many of these are related to firms with fewer than 500 employees. [940]
§ Sir John WheelerThe information is not readily available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
156W
§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how his Department publicises payment practices other than as percentages of invoices paid late. [963]
§ Sir John WheelerThe Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments payment practices and performances are published in the departmental report. The Department of Agriculture also publishes its payment targets in the booklet "Our Service Standards".
§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average length of time it takes for his Department to pay invoices. [925]
§ Sir John WheelerThe information requested is not available in the Northern Ireland Office, the Department of Economic Development or the Department of Health and Social Services, excluding the Child Support Agency. The average length of time taken to make payments by the other four Northern Ireland Departments and the CSA ranges from 10 days to 20 days.