To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answers of 12 June 2006, Official Report, column 1000W, on departmental finance, what information she relied on for her statement that the account payable module closed promptly in April and May; why this information was not used to answer question 75958; and if she will make a statement. (78193)

The information contained in the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East (Dr. Howells) to my hon. Friend on 12 June 2006, Official Report, column 1000W, concerning the prompt closure of the accounts payable module, was provided by officials in the resource accounting department. They confirmed that the accounts payable module was closed promptly at the end of April and May and was available to users the day after the April closure, and on the same day following the May closure.

I also replied to my hon. Friend on 12 June 2006, Official Report, column 1000W, that information about delays in the input and processing or invoices, and late payment of invoices was not held for invoices processed at overseas missions. The information could only be obtained centrally by contacting each mission and this could be done only at disproportionate cost.