To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies paid in interest to suppliers under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 in the last three years for which figures are available. (275196)

The Department does not separately record details on interest for late payment of invoices under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.

The Department’s agencies paid a total of £34,542.42 in 2008-09. No amounts were paid in 2007-08 or 2006-07.