§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how often his Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years. [40512]
§ Mr. Michael ForsythMy Department has carried out an annual check of payment performance since 1991–92 but does not distinguish between small and large firms.
The overall results for the last four years show a steady improvement in the percentage of supplier payments made within the period stipulated in the contract, normally 30 days:
Year Percentage of payments paid on time 1991–92 82 1992–93 85 1993–94 89 1994–95 96 The figures for the larger agencies of the Scottish Office for the last two years are:
Percentage Agency 1993–94 1994–95 Scottish Agriculture and Science Agency 92 97 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency 93 99 Historic Scotland 94 100 Scottish Prison Service 86 89