§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) orders and (b) firms are represented by the percentage of invoices not paid by his Department within 30 days in 1994–95. [6489]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotMost of my Department's bills are paid by the Defence Accounts Agency. The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency pays its own. I have asked the chief executives to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 19 December 1995:
You asked the Secretary of State for Defence about the number of orders and firms whose invoices are not paid by his Department within 30 days and what amount is owed to businesses by his Department whose invoices are not paid within 30 days. I am replying to both questions on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, formerly the Defence Research Agency.I explained in my letter to you of 1 November that virtually all our validated invoices are paid within 9 days of reaching our bill paying section. As the number of bills not paid within this period is so small I am afraid that we do not keep statistics on them.I am sorry I cannot be more helpful on this occasion.1114WLetter from P. J. Trevelyan to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 19 December 1995:
You asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) orders and (b) firms are represented by the percentage of invoices not paid by his Department within 30 days in 1994–95. As Chief Executive of the Defence Accounts Agency I have been asked to reply.The payment performance statistics which arc readily available are held in volume of invoices only so the information requested could only be provided as disproportionate cost.I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.
§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the amount owed to those businesses whose invoices were not paid within 30 days or within agreed contractual arrangements for 1994–95. [6513]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotMost of my Department's bills are paid by the Defence Accounts Agency. The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency pays its own. I have asked the chief executives to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 19 December 1995:
You asked the Secretary of State for Defence about the number of orders and firms whose invoices are not paid by his Department within 30 days and what amount is owed to businesses by his Department whose invoices are not paid within 30 days. I am replying to both questions on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, formerly the Defence Research Agency.I explained in my letter to you of 1 November that virtually all our validated invoices are paid within 9 days of reaching our bill paying section. As the number of bills not paid within this period is so small I am afraid that we do not keep statistics on them.I am sorry I cannot be more helpful on this occasion.Letter from P. J. Trevelyan to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 19 December 1995:
You asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the amount owed to those businesses whose invoices were not paid within 30 days or within agreed contractual arrangements for 1994/95. As Chief Executive of the Defence Accounts Agency I have been asked to reply.We monitor our prompt payment performance closely. Of the almost 3 million bills received by the Liverpool payment office in 1994/95, 329 were not paid within 30 days. The payment performance statistics which are readily available are held in volume of bills only, therefore the amount of money owed in respect of this very small percentage of invoices could only be provided at disproportionate cost.I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.