To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of undisputed invoices were paid in 30 days by (a) the Audit Commission and (b) the average local authority in England in the last year for which figures are available. [115492]

83 per cent of the undisputed bills received by the Audit Commission in 2001–02 were paid within 30 days. For 2001–02 the average percentage of invoices for commercial goods and services that were paid by English local authorities within mutually agreed