To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all NHS trusts purchasing supplies and equipment under central NHS contracts pay invoices within 10 days of receipt. (242665)

David Nicholson, NHS Chief Executive, wrote to all NHS Trust Chief Executives on 21 October asking them to examine and review existing payment practices and payment performance and to move as closely as possible to the 10-day payment commitment that has been set for Government Departments wherever practical. This would include cases in which trusts pay suppliers directly through contracts that have been centrally negotiated.