§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary for Northern Ireland what is the policy of her Department on the timely payment of debts; and what is her Department's record on the payment of debts in the current financial year. [9526]
§ Mr. Paul Murphy[holding answer 18 July 1997]: The policy of the Northern Ireland civil service and the Northern Ireland Office on the timely payment of debts is the same as for Great Departments. NI Departments are signed up to the NI CBI prompt payment code and are committed to the current target that no Department should fall below 95 per cent. attainment for prompt payment of undisputed bills.
The prompt payment consolidated statistics for NI Departments for the first quarter of the current financial year are not yet available. The statistics for the last period of 1996–97 show that 99.3 per cent., met the policy target.