HC Deb 01 November 1995 vol 265 c357W
Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [40521]

Mr. Sackville

The information is not available in the form requested. The Department and its agencies regularly monitor their overall payment performance, the results of which are as follows:

Since 1991–92 the Department, excluding its agencies, has carried out annual surveys to ascertain the percentage of invoices paid within the agreed credit period, or where no credit period has been set, within 30 days of the presentation of a valid invoice. The Department's payment performance, against these criteria is as follows:

  • 1991–92: 85 per cent.
  • 1992–93: 90 per cent.
  • 1993–94: 87.1 per cent.
  • 1994–95: 91.9 per cent.

Information is available for the Department's agencies only in respect of 1994–95. Details are as follows:

  • NHS estate management and Health Building Agency—85 per cent. of payments were made within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice.
  • NHS Pensions Agency—the average time taken to pay suppliers was six days from the date of receipt of an invoice.
  • Medical Devices Agency—all invoices are paid promptly on receipt of a valid invoice. The agency which was established in September 1994 is due to publish its payment performance in its next annual report.
  • Youth treatment service—the average time taken to pay suppliers was 11 days from the receipt of the invoice.
  • Medicines Control Agency—the average time between receipt of a valid invoice and payment was 20 days.

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