To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of invoices his Department has paid within 10 days of receipt in each of the last five months. (270538)

The Northern Ireland Office, excluding its agencies and executive NDPBs, paid the following percentages of invoices within 10 days of receipt in each of the last five months:

November 2008: 59 per cent.

December 2008: 83 per cent.

January 2009: 79 per cent.

February 2009: 83 per cent.

March 2009: 82 per cent.