§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons he set Government Departments a target of paying 90 per cent. of their bills on time; and when this target will be raised. [34062]
§ Mrs. Angela KnightThe Treasury believes that it is important to pay as many bills on time as possible, while recognising that there will always be a proportion of bills that are wrong or goods that are faulty.
From 1 June, all Government Departments and their agencies are required to:
- —pay all invoices not in dispute in 30 days or the agreed contractual terms if otherwise specified; and
- —aim to pay 100 per cent. of invoices, including disputed invoices once the dispute has been settled, on time in these terms. No Department should fall below 95 per cent. for undisputed bills.