§ Mr. Quentin DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those defence contractors which have been(a) instructed not to submit invoices for defence equipment and supplies until after the end of the current financial year and (b) have been asked to accept that payment will not be made until then. [110553]
§ Dr. MoonieNo defence contractors have been instructed not to submit invoices until after the end of the current financial year. The MOD routinely enters into agreements with its suppliers to promote commercial relationships which benefit both parties. Details are commercially confidential between us and individual companies and are consequently being withheld under Exemption 7a2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Our arrangements are freely entered into by both sides.