The overall payment performance of Government is 96.87 per cent. Figures for the financial year 2005-06 show that there has been a slight fall compared to last year’s figure of 97.09 per cent. Some 54 per cent of Departments improved on their performance of last year.
Government Departments and their agencies are required to monitor their payment performance and to publish the results in their Departmental or annual reports. The table lists, by Department, the proportion of bills paid within 30 days, or other agreed credit period, on receipt of a valid invoice.
The Government take this issue very seriously, and are committed to improving the payment culture in the UK, in order to create fair and stable business transactions. The Government’s own payment performance is an important element in this policy.
Main Departments 2005-06 Paid on Time % Defence Bills Agency (Ministry of Defence) 100 Office of Fair Trading 99.86 Intelligence Agencies (GCHQ) 99.80 Privy Council Office 99.71 Office for National Statistics 99.51 Office for Government Commerce 99.48 Office of Gas & Electricity Markets (OFGEM) 99.46 The National Archives (Public Records Office) 99.31 Health & Safety Executive 99.19 Scotland Office (Department for Constitutional Affairs) 99.11 Office of Water Services (OFWAT) 99.10 Postal Services Commission (PostCom) 98.97 Export Credit Guarantee Department 98.93 HM Revenue & Customs 98.80 Department for Transport 98.71 Charity Commission 98.24 Food Standards Agency 98.18 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 98.09 Forestry Commission 97.98 Ordnance Survey 97.95 Department for Culture, Media and Sport 97.66 Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) 97.66 Government Actuary's Department 97.54 Land Registry 97.38 Department for International Development 96.76 Department for Education & Skills 96.29 Department of Health 96.19 Treasury Solicitors Department 95.78 Department of Trade and Industry 95.67 UK Trade & Investment 95.35 Electoral Commission 94.91 Office of Rail Regulation 94.89 HM Treasury 94.70 Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 94.19 Cabinet Office (OPS) 94.06 Central Office of Information 93.17 Foreign & Commonwealth Office 92.96 Serious Fraud Office 91.46 Department for Work and Pensions 89.79 Crown Prosecution Service 88.96 Wales Office (Department for Constitutional Affairs) 88.64 Department for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Chancellor's Department) 88.48 Northern Ireland Office 86.65 Home Office 86.24 National Savings and Investments 85.49 Royal Mint 84.98 Overall Total 96.87