The overall payment performance of Government is 94.83 per cent. Figures for the financial year 2002–03 show that there has been a slight decrease in overall performance this year. However, there has been a continued improvement in the payment performance of a number of Departments and agencies, with 59 per cent., achieving the average and 19 per cent., paying 99 per cent, or more of their invoices on time.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, of 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 Department | 2002–03 Paid on Time % |
| Ministry of Defence | 100 |
| Privy Council Office | 100 |
| Office of Water Services | 99.72 |
| Inland Revenue | 99.35 |
| Land Registry | 99.21 |
| Office of Telecommunications | 99.21 |
| Government Actuary's Department | 99.17 |
| Public Records Office | 99.17 |
| Department for Culture, Media and Sport | 99.09 |
| Health and Safety Executive | 98.95 |
| Export Credit Guarantee Department | 98.76 |
| Charity Commission | 98.24 |
| HM Customs and Excise | 98.13 |
| Treasury Solicitors Department | 98.13 |
| Office for National Statistics | 97.97 |
| Electoral Commission | 97.84 |
| Ordnance Survey | 97.53 |
| Department of Trade and Industry | 97.2 |
Main Departments
| 2002–03 Paid on Time %
|
| Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioners | 96.88 |
| Forestry Commission | 96.75 |
| Office of the Deputy Prime Minister | 96.72 |
| Department for International Development | 96.52 |
| Office of Government Commerce HQ | 96.28 |
| NI Court Service | 96.23 |
| Cabinet Office (OPS) | 96.21 |
| Food Standards Agency | 96.00 |
| Office of the Rail Regulator | 95.69 |
| Lord Chancellor's Department | 95.43 |
| Office for Standards in Education | 94.76 |
| Department for Education and Skills | 94.52 |
| Department of Health | 94.46 |
| Department for National Savings and Investments | 94.43 |
| Office of Fair Trading | 94.02 |
| Serious Fraud Office | 92.77 |
| Foreign and Commonwealth Office | 92.46 |
| Department for Work and Pensions | 92.03 |
| Scotland Office | 92.24 |
| Department for Transport | 91.96 |
| DEFRA | 91.43 |
| Royal Mint | 90.57 |
| Crown Prosecution Service | 90.42 |
| Office of Gas and Electricity Markets | 89.54 |
| Home Office | 88.64 |
| Wales Office | 88.48 |
| Northern Ireland Office | 85.16 |
| HM Treasury | 84.06 |
| Government Communications HQ | 83.98 |
| Average percentage paid on time | 94.83 |