§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the average number of days from the date of invoice to date of payment taken by Government Departments and non-departmental agencies during 2001 to pay accounts payable. [30144]
§ Ms HewittThe Government take this issue very seriously and are working hard to improve their payment performance.
All Government Departments and agencies have been required to monitor their payment performance, and are required to pay all valid invoices within 30 days or other agreed credit period.
My Department collects the payment performance figures, which are published annually in July.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Mr. Wright) on 19 July 2001, Official Report, column 322W.