§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of bills to his Department were paid in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or. where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice in the last year for which figures are available. [5694]
§ Mrs. Angela Knight[holding answer 14 December 1995]: For invoices received between November 1994 and October 1995, 72 per cent. were paid within 30 days of receipt. Most of those paid later than 30 days were delayed due to problems associated with particular suppliers, such as an error in the invoice or problems with the goods or service including a failure to deliver. Some of these invoices would still be within contractual conditions but it would incur disproportionate cost to establish what percentage they represent.
This figure compares with a previous estimate of 82 per cent. of invoices paid within 30 days in 1994–95. This was given to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) in a question answered on 22 November 1995 at column 108. I regret that the calculations underlying this higher number were flawed. However, we are taking additional steps to improve performance, and between 1 September and 30 November 1995 the Treasury has achieved the figure of 82 per cent.