§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the suppliers to her Department who have not been paid within the target period during the past year. [13525]
§ Mr. Ian McCartney[holding answer 30 October 1997]All Departments are required to pay their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of goods or services or a valid invoice, whichever is the later, where no such terms exist. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Government will publish a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996–97 shortly.