Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress has been made on ensuring that all Government suppliers are signatories of the Prompt Payment Code.

In 2015 the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) strengthened the Prompt Payment Code.

The majority of government’s strategic suppliers are signatories to the Code and payment practices of government’s largest suppliers are regularly monitored to ensure that they are in line with the aims of prompt payment policy. While the Prompt Payment Code is voluntary, any new strategic supplier to Government is encouraged to sign up.

In addition, BEIS have recently launched a call for evidence seeking views and experiences on the impact of late and unfair payment practices. This closes on 29 November and a link to this is below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/creating-a-responsible-payment-culture-a-call-for-evidence-on-tackling-late-payment.