§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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 past five years. [40510]
§ Sir John WheelerThe information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departments, however, are required to provide details of their annual performance in their departmental reports. For 1993–94 and 1994–95, the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments paid 95 per cent. and 94.7 per cent. respectively of their bills 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.