To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the policy of his Department on the timely payment of debts; and what is his Department's record on the payment of debts in the current financial year. [9521]

All Departments are required to pay all their bills within the agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of goods or service or a valid invoice, whichever is the later, where no such terms exist. Information on payment performance for the current financial year could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The Government will publish a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996–97 in the Autumn.