§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what percentage of bills to her Department were paid(a) in accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b) within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice where no contractual conditions applied in the last year for which figures are available. [18815]
§ Mr. Sproat[holding answer 6 March 1997]: My Department has signed up to the CBI prompt payment code and is committed to the payment of invoices within agreed contractual provisions or within 30 days of the presentation of a valid invoice or delivery, if later. Whilst the information requested is not available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, on the basis of a sample of invoices received by the Department of National Heritage during the 1995–96 financial year, 91 per cent. were paid within the contract terms or 30 days.