HL Deb 14 October 1997 vol 582 cc136-7WA
Baroness Denton of Wakefield

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are their requirements of contractors to departments with regard to prompt payment, and how these can be enforced.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

Since April 1992 it has been a requirement that government contracts should require contractors to include clauses in their contracts with sub-contractors requiring them to be paid promptly, normally within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice. Where a contractor fails to comply with the terms of its sub-contracts, sub-contractors may enforce payment through the courts in the normal way.