§ Baroness Haymanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking to ensure the prompt payment of creditors by National Health Service bodies and what level of debt of more than 30 days' standing they expect to be carried forward by the National Health Service after 31 March 1997.
§ Baroness CumberlegeAll National Health Service bodies are required to pay their external suppliers within 30 days of receipt of goods or a valid invoice. The payment performance of NHS trusts is collected on a quarterly basis and trusts which are underperforming are monitored by the appropriate NHS Executive Regional Office.
Levels of overdue debt are not collected centrally from NHS bodies.