§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average and median time his Department has taken to pay suppliers in each of the last 12 months; and what proportion of bills took more than six weeks to pay.
§ Mr. HowardThe information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. However, Departments are required to provide details of their annual payment performance in their departmental reports. In its 1995 annual report, the Home Office expects to report payment performance in excess of 90 per cent. in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days of receipt of goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice.