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Mr. Cotter
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to make representations to the European Community on standardising late payment of commercial debt regulations across the Community. [81057]
Mr. Wills
The Government are working closely with their EU partners to tackle late payment at a European level so that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can be sure of their rights wherever they do business in the EU and participate fully in the Single Market. We are actively involved in discussions on the proposed EU Stage 1 bids were due in on 14 April and the finalists to go onto stage 2 will be announced on 10 May. The winners will be announced this summer.