Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release of 29 November 2018 entitled Crack down on suppliers who don’t pay on time, whether identification of late payment by public sector contractors will include payment information from Crown Commercial Service investigations.

Large suppliers are already required by law to publish their payment records every 6 months on Gov.uk. Departments will be able to use these records as part of the assessment to ensure the criteria is met. These are published here https://www.gov.uk/check-when-businesses-pay-invoices

If a business is unable to demonstrate that they are meeting the core standard of paying 95% of invoices within 60 days over the previous two six month periods and cannot explain why or show evidence of significant remedial action taking place, then they may be excluded from the process and not be able to win that opportunity. Decisions will be taken on a case by case basis.

Companies are also required to demonstrate they have procedures for resolving disputed invoices promptly, and that systems are in place to ensure those in supply chains are paid within agreed contractual terms.