HC Deb 22 November 1995 vol 267 cc108-9W
Mrs. Roche

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount owed to those businesses whose invoices were not paid within 30 days of receipt or in accordance with contractual agreements in each of the last five years. [1117]

Mrs. Angela Knight

Records of the promptness of payment for the past five years are not maintained. Over the past three years, the amount owed to businesses whose invoices were not paid within 30 days of receipt was:

  • 1993–94: £1,006K
  • 1994–95: £1,689K
  • 1995–96 to date: £818K

The majority of the invoices to which the sums above relate were delayed due to problems associated with the particular suppliers such as an error in the invoice or failure to deliver the goods or service.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (i) orders and (ii) firms are represented by the 18 per cent. of invoices not paid by his Department within 30 days or in accordance with contractual agreements in 1994–95; how many of those are related to firms with fewer than 500 employees. [912]

Mrs. Knight

The number of (i) orders and (ii) firms represented by the 18 per cent. of invoices not paid within 30 days is shown in the table:

  1. (i) orders: 380
  2. (ii) firms: 152

These figures include invoices which were delayed due to problems associated with the particular suppliers such as an error in the invoice or failure to deliver the goods or service.

The Treasury does not distinguish between different sizes of suppliers. Information on how many of those invoices relate to firms with fewer than 500 employees is not available.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average length of time it takes for his Department to pay invoices. [919]

Mrs. Knight

The average number of days taken to pay invoices is 23 days from date of receipt.

This includes invoices which were delayed due to problems associated with the particular suppliers such as an error in the invoice or failure to deliver the goods or service.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how his Department publicises payment practices other than as percentages of invoices paid late. [969]

Mrs. Knight

Departmental payment performance figures are published annually within the Chancellor of the Exchequer's departmental report. Figures are given showing the percentage of invoices paid within 30 days of receipt of an invoice or within the payment period specified in a contract if different.

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