§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the instances in which his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies failed to pay valid invoices within 30 days or after the agreed credit period in the financial year 2000–01. [32023]
§ Mr. LeslieAll Departments are committed to pay 100 per cent. of correctly presented invoices on time. My Department undertakes to pay all invoices within 30 days of receiving them. However, payment terms may vary between Departments.
In the financial year 2000–01 the Cabinet Office and its agencies paid 96.36 per cent. of invoices within 30 days. This shows an improvement over the previous year.
More detailed information on specific instances of failure to pay within 30 days is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.