§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) of the bills currently awaiting payment in his Department, how many are over the advised payment date by(a) up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (e) over six months respectively;
(2) how many of the bills paid by his Department during the last month for which figures are available were paid within (a) up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (e) over six months from receipt of invoice; and how many were over the date for payment by (i) up to one month, (ii) up to two months, (iii) up to three months, (iv) up to six months and (v) over six months.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However, Departments are required to provide details of their annual payment performance in their departmental reports. Recent figures for 1994 indicate that the Employment Department, the Employment Service and the Health and Safety Executive paid, respectively, 96.3, 83.4 and 90.3 per cent. of their bills in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual condition existed, within 30 days of receipt of goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice.