To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received following the issue in May 1986 and July 1989 of the booklet "Payment on Time" to indicate the success or otherwise of a voluntary code of practice to tackle the problem of the late payment of bills.

We have received representations from a number of individuals and organisations following the publication of "Payment on Time" in 1986 and of "Prompt Payment Please" in 1988. These have been largely favourable and support the principle of voluntary arrangements to improve payment practice. I was very pleased that the top 100 companies were able to endorse the publication.