§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on the timely payment of debt; and what its record has been on debt payment in the current financial year. [9322]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 18 July 1997]: This is largely a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Bills Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member. The other executive agencies that have responsibilities for payment of bills are also required to comply with departmental policy to pay bills promptly within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of the goods or service or a valid invoice, whichever is the 723W later, where no such terms exists. Information on payment performance for these agencies for the current financial year could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Letter from Mr. I. S. Elrick to Mrs. Theresa May, dated 24 July 1997:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about Departmental debt payment as this matter falls, in the main, within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Bills Agency.Departmental policy is to pay bills promptly within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of the goods or service or a valid invoice, whichever is later, where no such terms exist. Latest figures available for the current financial year show that during the period 1 April to 31 May 1997 the Defence Bills Agency paid 99.1% of bills within 11 days of their acceptance and 100% within 30 days. The Government will publish a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996–97 in the Autumn.