Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, for each of the last five years, what percentage of invoices submitted to the Education and Skills Funding Agency were paid to suppliers within 30 days; how many invoices were paid later than 30 days; what was the potential interest and compensation liability due to late payment; and how much interest and compensation was claimed and paid.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) was established on 1 April 2017. Therefore, we have only been able to provide the data for the 2017/18 financial year.

During the 2017/18 financial year, the ESFA paid 99.02% of its invoices within 30 days. 209 invoices were paid later than 30 days.

The potential interest due for late payments amounts to £21,144.40. However, no interest or compensation for late supplier payment was claimed or paid.