Mr. Anthony D. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of bills were paid on time by Government Departments and their agencies during the financial year 2000–01. [5975]
§ Nigel GriffithsI am today publishing tables setting out the payment performance of Government Departments and their Agencies in the financial year 2000–01. The publication of these tables is part of our commitment to tackle late payment and improve the UK's payment culture. We are determined that the public sector should lead by example.
Government Departments and Agencies are required to pay all valid invoices within 30 days, or other agreed credit period. The tables show that, overall, Government Departments and their Agencies paid 96.80 per cent. of bills within the agreed credit period.
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Annex B Percentage Main departments Paid on time National Investment and Loans Office 100 Privy Council Office 99.86 Registry of Friendly Societies 99.8 Office of Water Services 99.75 Scotland Office 99.7 Department for National Savings 99.6 Land Registry 99.5 Public Records Office 99.2 HM Treasury 99.09 Ordnance Survey 99.06 Ministry of Defence 98.67 Inland Revenue 98.65 Office of Telecommunications 98.64 Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce 98.62 Export Credits Guarantee Department 98.5 Health and Safety Executive 98.40 Northern Ireland Office 98.1 Electoral Commission 98 Government Actuary's Department 97.85
Annex B Percentage Main departments Paid on time Foreign and Commonwealth Office 97.79 Office of Gas and Electricity Markets 97.43 Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions 97.41 Office of the Rail Regulator 97.4 HM Customs and Excise 97.36 Charity Commission 97.2 Department of Trade and Industry 95.7 Forestry Commission HQ 97.16 Government Communications HQ 96.75 Department for Culture, Media and Sport 96.7 Department for International Development 96.66 Office of Government Commerce HQ 96.37 Crown Prosecution Service 96.27 Cabinet Office (Total) 96.27 Department for Education and Employment 96.25 Office for Standards in Education 96.11 Northern Ireland Department of Finance and Personnel 96.1 Department of Health 95.97 Office for National Statistics 95.45 Office of Fair Trading 95 Royal Mint 95 Lord Chancellor's Department 94.69 Department of Social Security HQ 94.4 Serious Fraud Office 93.67 Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 93.56 ACAS 92 Home Office 91.7 Food Standards Agency 85.76 Treasury Solicitors Department 80.75 Office of the Secretary of State for Wales 67.5 Total 96.80